How diabetics’ patients identify their medicines?

Espírito Santo, Margarida; Nascimento, Tânia; Newman, Jeff

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/12303

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Authors

Espírito Santo, Margarida

Nascimento, Tânia

Newman, Jeff

Abstract(s)

The main goal of this study was the characterization of diabetic patients´ knowledge in the identification of medicines, respectively the drug´s name, drug´s strength, and therapeutic indication. A cross-sectional study was developed at a specialized medical center in the diabetes area. Only patients that accepted to participate in this research and who gave their consent in writing before the start of the study were enrolled. In the study they were included patients aged 18 years and older, with diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and using at least one medicine. Data collection was conducted through structured interviews, which was held during a consultation in a systematic way by completion of a questionnaire. Were included in this study one hundred and seven (107) patients, 41.1% female and 58.9% male, aged between 35 and 88 years, with a mean age of 65.6±10.5 years. The most prevalent health problems, beside diabetes mellitus, were hypertension (83.2%) and dyslipidaemia (74.8%), with a mean of 4.7±1.9 health problems per patient. Each patient was using a mean of 6.9±2.9 medicines and 0.2±0.4 food supplements per day. The therapeutic group often used was C (Cardiovascular System), A (Alimentary Tract and Metabolism) and N (Nervous System) with respectively 33.8%, 32.6% and 11.5%. Patients included in this study could not indicate the name of the medicines they were taking in 50% of the medicines, but were able to read the name of the medicine in most (96.5%) of them. When patients were questioned regarding drug´s strength only in about 25% of the medicines they managed to indicate the respective value. In most medicines (67.7%), patients were able to indicate the correct therapeutic indication for each medicine, although in 16.8% of medicines patients did not know the respective therapeutic indication, in 9.2% of medicines the information about therapeutic indication was incomplete, and in 6.3% of medicines patients have indicated an incorrect therapeutic indication. The results obtained indicate that patients have some lack of ability in the basic identification of the medicines used. In the future it will be desirable to perform a more extensive analysis that includes further variables related to the knowledge of the patients about medicines, including instructions of use, possible side effects and storage conditions, in order to be able to establish an action plan that can provide patients with more and better skills to achieve a responsible use of medicines.