...Utilization Paper An Intervention Study to Enhance Medication Compliance in Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals My research study was to determine whether daily videotelephone or regular telephone reminders would increase the quantity of prescribed cardiac medication taken in a sample of elderly individuals who have congestive heart failure (CHF) (Peteva, 2001). Within this research I would disseminate the new scientific knowledge with the help of the pharmaceutical company that makes the congestive heart failure medication. With the help and support of the pharmaceutical maker, I would provide a full in-service to the nursing staff of hospitals and doctor’s offices alike. In doing this, this would provide a friendly and educational atmosphere in a nursing practice setting to get complete understanding of the research findings and how they as nurses can make a difference in the consumption of prescribed medication. Secondly, I would write a journal article and have it published in the pharmaceutical’s bulletin to include a well-known nursing journal. These journal articles would contain the findings of the research and suggestions on how the nursing staff can help the patients improve the compliance of taking prescribed medication. Once the information is disseminated into the medical public, the nurses will apply the learned knowledge to their practice for the elderly patients who are taking congestive heart failure medication. First, the nurse will collect all the patients...
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...Prescribed Medication and Non Compliance in the Elderly In this article I will reflect on the issues surrounding the non compliance of prescribed medication taking in the elderly and the implications of caring for such patients within the community setting. The model of reflection that I have based my writing upon is Gibbs’ model of reflection (Gibbs 1998) which I feel allows me best, in a methodical and logical way, to explore my thoughts and feelings, to evaluate the care delivery and to reflect upon my actions and those of others. Lily (pseudonym NMC, 2008) was referred to the Rapid Response Team by her General Practitioner with pneumonia; Lily has longstanding respiratory and mental health problems. Rapid Response Teams are part of Intermediate Care, formed as a result of the implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People (DOH, 2002) to prevent unnecessary hospital admission during episodes of acute illness. Lily’s GP had requested that we visit to prompt medication and generally provide assistance during this time. I visited Lily with a colleague, prompted her medication as prescribed and asked if she had taken her other medications that morning. Lily’s other medications were in a dosette box, an aid memoir to medication administration used when multiple drugs are prescribed; each box contains an entire weeks medication and is prefilled by a registered pharmacist (McGraw, Dennan 2001). Lily had two such boxes, one which she had started...
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...Renal Transplant and Medication Compliance: Patient-Centered Nursing Interventions will Facilitate Better Patient Compliance of Medications in Post-Renal Transplant Recipient Yonica Jamieson Jersey College Abstract Patient in compliance with prescribed medications or treatments is warrant, in any medical condition. This research paper, focused and took a look at the effects of non-compliance with immunosuppressant medications in post-renal transplant recipients, such as graft rejection. Identified some barriers to compliance and discussed how patient-centered nursing interventions should be used to alleviate these barriers and bring about compliance with immunosuppressant medications, at the same time decreasing graft rejection in renal transplant recipients. Renal Transplant and Medication Compliance: Patient-centered Nursing Interventions will Facilitate Better Patient Compliance of Medications in Post-Renal Transplant Recipients In medicine, the term non-compliance is commonly used in regard to a patient who does not take a prescribed medication or follow prescribed course treatments (MedicineNet, 2012). This is one of the major issues with post-renal transplantation recipients. Renal transplant is a surgery done to implant a healthy kidney into a person with end-stage renal disease. End-stage renal disease is when the kidney stops function all together, that makes the person unable to live without dialysis...
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...Management. Hypothyroidism treatment is an often rewarding, simple and cheap task normally undertaken in general and in sub speciality practice (Roe, 2015). Treating it in a 75-year-old male aims at enhancing the subject's symptoms, thereby allowing better adaptation to the environment. There should be a frequent regulation of the dose to maintain thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) within the lower half of the reference range. Thyroid hormones (L-thyroxine). Hypothyroidism treatment follows an oral replacement with synthetic L-thyroxine (levothyroxine) (Hennesey, 2015). It is normally administered as a single daily dose in different dosages according to the age with the elderly patients receiving a lower dose than the younger ones (Bensenor,...
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...Friday NUR/440 July 14, 2014 Maria Mendez Vulnerable Population and Self-Awareness Vulnerable populations are groups that are not well integrated into the health care system because of ethnic, cultural, economic, geographic, or health characteristics (Urban Institute, 2014). The elderly can become more vulnerable for a variety of reasons. Limited options for health care, physical or mental impairments and lack of transportation all contribute to the elderly being classified as a vulnerable population. Demographics involving the elderly include financial status and physical impairments. The majority of the elderly in our country are living on fixed incomes. Most do not have any retirement and rely on social security for their income. These problems place this population in the position of having to choose between basic needs or buying their medication and seeking health care. According to Social indicators research found that elderly with low-income levels have poorer functional capability, lower physical activity and poorer psychological well-being (Arendt, 2005). The elderly account for largest number of poor Americans. Challenges facing the well-being of the elderly are increased by high health care cost and low income that seniors are now facing they are having an even harder time getting by. The majority of states have at least 12 percent of residents over the age of 65. Unfortunately the focus of health care is in terms of structure are geared towards...
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...The elderly population is a growing concern in the healthcare field. According to the US Census Bureau (2011), the elderly encompassed 13% of the population in the United States. The elderly population also grew at a faster rate than any other age group in the United States (US Census Bureau, 2011). The same can be said for Arizona, where are elderly make up 13% of the state population, matching the national average (R&R Partners, 2005). Of this number 39.7% have been classified with a disability. This number is expected to continue to grow as the older population continues choosing warmer climates for retirement. In Pima County our elderly population entails 14.2% of the population, which is greater than the national average. By 2015 Pima county’s elderly population is expected to reach a concerning 185,087 (R&R Partners, 2005). A vulnerable person is characterized by being open and potentially exposed to harm, and a person’s vulnerability status can change due to health, finances or social position Dyer, Franzini, Watson …Pickens, 2008). This is concerning to the health community because of the vulnerabilities the elderly face. A large number of this population will experience changes in hearing, sight speech and mobility which may lead to isolation from the community and depression. Many could experience memory loss or develop dementia causing difficulty in caring for themselves requiring them to seek assisted living facilities or in home care providers. They have a variety...
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...information is designed to assist prescribers to issue prescriptions most effectively. These guidelines will help to reduce the time involved in the prescription process, increase patient safety and maximize patient compliance. For further information on the provincial requirements for prescriptions please refer to the College of Physicians and Surgeons Bylaw 53. Information regarding the documentation of verbal prescription is stated in the Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists Bylaw 14.13.3. PRESCRIPTION CONTENT Prescriptions need to be issued clearly and completely to minimize errors. Clear pronunciation or legible writing with accurate spelling is essential. The prescription may be written, or verbal for certain classes of drugs, (for more information refer to the chart Saskatchewan College of Pharmacists – Prescription Regulations also published in this Supplementary Information section) and must include the following information: date physician's name and signature patient's name full name of the medication medication concentration where appropriate medication strength where appropriate dosage amount prescribed or the duration of treatment administration route if other than oral explicit instructions for patient usage of the medication number of refills where refills are authorized The prescriber's name, address and telephone number should be preprinted on the prescription form, or hand printed beneath the signature. VERBAL PRESCRIPTIONS Federal...
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...couple take the correct medications at the correct times and on the correct days? An intervention that would help the couple with medications is one of the grown children can move closer to their parents. The child can monitor the couple more to ensure medication is taken correctly and at the right times. Another intervention to assist the couple is to have the medication measured out for the entire week. The family can do that. The insulin can be premeasured in the syringes and labeled with the time it is to be taken. The pills can be put in a medicine container or egg box that is labeled for the different days of the week. The process would start over on Sunday. Having a medication calendar can assist the family in taking the right amounts. The family can have a bell that goes off during the day when it is time to take medicines. Education is the key for the family to know and understand the importance of medication management. The grandchild and other children should learn about all the medication both parents take and what time it is taken. The process needs to be a team's effort, not just the elderly learning. Another intervention that would benefit John and Jane is one of the children can move closer to them. The grandson is living with the family, but he has limited interactions and cannot read, nor drive. 2. What education should be provided to the adult children and grandchild to help them understand the importance of taking the right medications at the right times...
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...YOUR COMMUNITY A. The format will discuss influenza in the elderly population addressing prevention, the signs, symptoms, and when to seek medical attention. II. SPECIFY THE TARGET POPULATION A. The target population chosen are elderly people over 65 years of age. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2014) website, people over age 65 are at a greater risk of developing influenza because of a weakened immune system. Approximately 90 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths and 50 and 60 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations in the United States occur in people 65 years and older. III. DEFINE INFLUENZAAND HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHEN IT HAS OCCURRED. A. According to Mayo Clinic (2014), " Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Initially, the flu may seem like a common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and sore throat. But colds usually develop slowly, whereas the flu tends to come on suddenly. And although a cold can be a nuisance, you usually feel much worse with the flu (Influenza (flu)). . IV. DESCRIBE HOW INFLUENZA IS DIAGNOSED AND THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT. * A. There is not one test that singles out influenza. There is a rapid * antigen test that is available but can be a false positive test result. * (Pg. 251). B. The recommended treatment for influenza is antiviral medication. If there is pneumonia, along with influenza...
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...Chronic Arthritis in the Elderly Management 6/1/2013 By: Kendra Chapman Topic: Management of Chronic Arthritis in the Elderly University Of Phoenix HCA/220 Date: June 1, 2013 By: Kendra When reading this article on the Management of Chronic Arthritis in the elderly I found that when you hit the half way mark that arthritis is one of the main diseases that they might have to face and is also one of the number one causes that concerns the elderly. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where two bones meet. It affects the musculoskeletal system, especially the joints and it is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in the industrialized countries. There also can be causes of chronic pain; advanced age increases the risk of certain health disorders that causes chronic pain. For older adults who live independently chronic pain can have devastating and wide-spread effects, threating the quality of life, imposing steep economics and social costs and also leading to personal strain. Compliance with drug therapy can be a challenge. Many elderly mistakenly think they should take analgesics only when pain becomes unbearable, and some fear they will become addicted to them. But the emphasize the importance of taking pain medication to keep ahead of pain rather than waiting until the pain becomes unbearable. When they use Nonpharmacologic pain management they become more open to using this method to manage...
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...within itself. I have become fund of the rehabilitation part of health care, whether working on activities of daily living or physically rehabilitating an injured or repaired limb I find this fascinating and rewarding. I have had the pleasure of assisting many individuals on their road to recovery and with the proper training and discipline the task is easier and pleasant to the patient. The other interest I have is nursing; I have completed a License Practical Nursing program and plan to work towards receiving my Registered Nurse license in the near future. This will give me the opportunity to access and provide valuable medical care to many individuals who rely on the skills of a nurse to provide medication and care; this also allows time for teaching on taking medication proper techniques to prevent further injuries or simple medical knowledge. Government health care programs have been around for many years dating back 100 years with President Teddy Roosevelt, there had been many debates and questions ask how we can provide better and affordable health care to the public. These are a few of the changes that have been implemented over the years, the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in 1966 which have contributed to our growing deficit. This was the government’s introduction into the insurance business. This program is alive and going strong today, good or bad they provide many with health care benefits which might have never been able to receive. The introduction...
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...daughter live close and take it in turns to visit daily. John is an ex-smoker who gave up 20 years ago, has long standing hypertension and is overweight having a BMI of 30 kg/m. John was diagnosed with heart failure a year ago after being hospitalised three times in the space of four months. Stewart (2004) feels that a diagnoses of heart failure is problematic in older patients as their symptoms can often mimic other diseases. According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guidelines (NICE) 2003, hospitalisation accounts² for 70% of the £716 million pounds spent on heart failure annually. In this assignment the physiology of the heart will be discussed and how heart failure affects its performance. John’s symptoms, medication and how his condition was diagnosed will be discussed³. John’s future care and how it will be managed along with who will be involved in his care4. NICE (2003) defines heart failure as a “complex syndrome” that results from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to function as a pump to support a “physiological circulation”. Tendera5 (2005) states that heart failure is common in older adults and occurs in approximately 10% of adults aged 80 years and older. This would support the coronary heart disease statistics (2008) these statistics shows that heart failure is on the increase, something Gardner (2008) would agree with feeling that heart failure is set to increase by 50%...
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...The title of the research article I chose to critique is from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. “Hypertension, orthostatic-hypotension, and the risk of falls in a community-dwelling elderly population: The maintenance of balance, independent living, intellect, and zest in the elderly Boston study”; this title fits well with the content presented in the research article. The independent variables are clearly defined as well as the dependent variables for the research being conducted. The content of the abstract is a very good overview of the content and it is consistent with the content. The abstract summarizes the objective, design, setting, participants, measurements, and results. Problem/Purpose The problem being investigated is the risk of falls in the elderly population related to the effects of controlled and uncontrolled hypertension and orthostatic hypotension. The authors do identify the significance of the problem as falls for being the leading cause of disability for the elder generations. Adequate background information is not provided to support the problem because the subject at hand “has not been investigated previously” (Gangavati, et al., 2011, p. 383). Explanation of the purpose of this study being conducted is provided by the authors. Literature Review The previous research articles and their outcomes are briefly described with different amounts of time from...
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...psychological, or social health” (de Chesney, 2012). There are many vulnerable populations and this paper will concentrate on the elderly. According to Walsh (2009), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states the elderly are considered anyone 65 years old or older. With the increased lifespan of elderly, there have become new demographics of young old (65-74), old (75-84), and oldest old (85 & over), and the frail old (anyone over 65 with physical or cognitive disabilities). The US census bureau estimated in 2011, the population of elderly persons 65 and over living in the U.S. to be 311,501,917. Between 2000 and 2010, the population 65 and over grew at a faster rate than any other population in the United States, 15.1% compared to 9.7% of the rest of the US population. Thirteen percent of the population is elderly; 55.2% are married, 32% live with family members, 51.7% are female, 48.3% are male, 60% are white, 17% are black, 18% are Hispanic, and 5% are other races. Education wise, 10.9% have less than a 9th grade , 10.3% have attended between 9th and 12th grade but did not receive a diploma, 36.4% are high school graduates, 20.6% have some college, and 22.5% have Bachelor’s degree or greater. It is estimated that elderly between the ages of 65-84 are doubling as the baby boomers age, with 85 and over being the fastest growing group due to elderly people living longer (US Census Bureau, 2012). As one ages, there are often cognitive changes and physical disabilities...
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...The concept of adherence to medication regimens has been an ongoing area of study across medicine, psychology, nursing and pharmacology. First, I think it is important to clarify the difference between compliance and adherence. The term “adherence” implies a more collaborative active role between the patients and their providers whereas compliance implies a passive role to health-care on the part of the patient (Carpenter 2005). The word adhere originated in the 15th century from the Latin “’ad-“ (to) + “haerere” (to stick)” (The American Heritage College Dictionary, 1993, p. 16). Adhere is defined as “to stick fast; remain attached” and/or “to be a devoted follower or supporter” (The American Heritage College Dictionary, 1993, p. 16). Adherence, then, is the “process or condition of adhering” or the “faithful attachment; devotion” (The American Heritage College Dictionary, 1993, p. 16). As a nurse practitioner, it is vitally important that we equip our patients with the proper information and instructions regarding treatment regimens to increase adherence and improve patient outcomes. As a nurse practitioner in the area of oncology, medication adherence to chemotherapy and targeted therapy agents, the need for a thorough understanding of adherence, is heightened due to the complexity surrounding the physiological implications of cancer and the pharmacokinetics of the treatment. Not only do the oral chemotherapy/targeted therapy medications have increased number and...
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