Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

« Back to Farmacia Journal 1/2023

IMPACT OF PHARMACY STUDENTS ON ELDERLY PATIENTS’ EDUCATION IN PROPER MEDICINE ADMINISTRATION

MAGDALENA WASZYK-NOWACZYK 1, WERONIKA GUZENDA 1*, PATRYCJA ALGEROWICZ 2, DOROTA TONDOWSKA 2, KORNEL PAWLAK 2, MICHAŁ MICHALAK 3,
ARLETA MATSCHAY 1, ALINA GÓRECKA 4

1Pharmacy Practice Division, Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Grunwaldzka Street, 60-780 Poznan, Poland
2Student’s Pharmaceutical Care Group, Pharmacy Practice Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Grunwaldzka Street, 60-780 Poznan, Poland
3Chair and Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60806 Poznan, Poland
4Wielkopolska Pharmacy Chamber, 87 Macieja Palacza Street, 60-273 Poznan, Poland

Download Full Article PDF

Progressive aging of the population is an inevitable fact, taking place especially in Europe. Elderly patients modify medicine dose on their own, abandon treatment or take extra, unprescribed drugs. Main aim of this study is to assess impact of training carried by pharmacy students on education directed at older people in terms of taken medicines. Research was conducted from November 2019 to March 2020 among people over 60 years old, from Poznań, Poland, seniors’ clubs by two pharmacy students under the supervision of pharmacist. Study included 58 participants (89.5% women and 10.5% men). Two paper-based questionnaires were used. No. 1 checked the awareness and safety of the use of drugs by the respondents. After its completion, there was conducted 30 minutes long training. Then, No. 2 was issued for re-estimating the knowledge of patients and the effectiveness of the lecture. People with primary education, as well as over 80 years of age and living alone, need increased care during pharmacotherapy, due to more serious problems with the acquisition of knowledge. After the lecture, the number of people who knew how to prepare drugs before administration increased. The awareness that medications should be taken with water has also increased. The training significantly improved patients' knowledge about allergies to certain drugs and excipients. After the lecture, the respondents declared that they will not independently change the recommended doses of drugs. Training allowed to increase the knowledge in the field of proper medication intake. Therefore, it is worth to consider the knowledge and abilities of students to spread the initiative of pharmaceutical care and proper patient education.