Medication Adherence in Elders Research Proposal

Medication Adherence in Elders - question Proposal ExampleMedical chemical bond has been defined by Osterberg & Blaschke, (2005) as the extent to which patients take practice of medicines as confirming by their health care suppliers. It has been reported as a crucial factor ascertain the health and well being of elderly population by the World Health Organization (Chung et al., 2008). The place has been reported to have high prevalence varying from 8-71%, 13-93% during confused studies. It has been estimated to result in huge frugal burden as well as high mortality (Unni, 2008). Recent evidences indicate that only 50% of the prescribed doses are actually taken by individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases. Of these patients approximately 22% take medication in quantities lesser than the amount recommended, 12% do non fill their prescription and 12% procure the medication but forego them entirely. Though race, ethnicity and board have not been reported to be a risk fact or for medication non-adherence, the issue is rendered critical among elderly patients due to the high vulnerability of this age group to chronic illnesses (Kocureck, 2009). In the light of above discussion the importance of research investigating the various aspects of the medication adherence in elderly population is highlighted. The current research aims to examine the prevalence range of medication adherence in elderly population. Literature Review High prevalence and large economic burden of medical non adherence has led to extensive studies and investigations enabling an understanding of the issue and devising adherence strategies. However despite the prolific research conducted during the last three decades an optimal strategy is lacking and thence the prevalence rates for non adherence are still on a rise. An estimated 100 billion dollar bill remains the annual cost of dealing with complications such as hospitalization, disability, disease aggravation mortality etc result ing as a consequence of non adherence (Wertheimer & Santella, 2003). On the basis of causes of non-adherence two types of medication non-adherence have been identified lettered and unintentional. While the latter has been attributed to forgetfulness or incidental causes the former is usually reported in patients who have been winning medications but discontinue upon feeling better or worse. However later research has shown that patients belief is an important contributor to forgetfulness in taking medication rendering forgetting to take medication not a purely unintentional type of non-adherence (Unni, 2008). The major obstacles to medication resulting in non-adherence include forgetfulness, different priorities, metrical omission of doses, information deficit and certain psychological factors. While the aforementioned factors are at least partially under the control of patients, certain factors such as cost, patient lifestyle inconsistent with medication timing and complex medic ation regime are important contributing factors attributed to the health care provider (Osterberg & Blaschke, 2005). Six patterns of medication adherence have been identified in patients with chronic diseases. First group adheres to the prescribed doses and timings fully, second is characterized by delays but with complete doses, third miss a single doses occasionally and withal are inconsistent with