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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
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Drugs & Aging
Published in: Drugs & Aging 7/2005

01-07-2005 | Leading Article

Medication-Related Problems in the Elderly

Defining the Issues and Identifying Solutions

Authors: Dr William Simonson, Janice L. Feinberg

Published in: Drugs & Aging | Issue 7/2005

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Abstract

The elderly population is at great risk for medication-related problems as a result of age-related physiological changes, the presence of multiple chronic diseases and conditions, and the types and numbers of prescription and nonprescription medications they consume.
Medication-related problems have received international attention. In the US, as many as 200 000 people may die of medication-related problems each year. Studies from other developed nations where patients have access to medications have determined that various types of medication-related problems occur in the elderly population in healthcare environments ranging from nursing homes to community dwelling settings.
A variety of initiatives have been developed in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of medication-related problems in the elderly. The role that a pharmacist can play in identifying and preventing the negative health outcomes and costs of medication-related problems is being increasingly recognised. Indeed, numerous studies have now documented the positive impact that pharmacists can have in this area, and ongoing research is being conducted.
With the growing numbers of elderly, and the increase in the numbers and types of medications available, it is imperative that awareness of medication-related problems be increased and that further initiatives be developed to optimise the positive outcomes of drug therapy in the elderly.
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Metadata
Title
Medication-Related Problems in the Elderly
Defining the Issues and Identifying Solutions
Authors
Dr William Simonson
Janice L. Feinberg
Publication date
01-07-2005
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drugs & Aging / Issue 7/2005
Print ISSN: 1170-229X
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1969
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200522070-00002

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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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WHO estimates that half of all patients worldwide are non-adherent to their prescribed medication. The consequences of poor adherence can be catastrophic, on both the individual and population level.

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