Polypharmacy in Older Adults, Research Paper Example

Introduction

This research paper will focus on Polypharmacy and the possible solutions to it that is commonly seen in the older people that are generally above the age of 65, it is a case that is the rise today affecting the aging in the society. With the rate at which the older people are getting absorbed to Polypharmacy is at an alarming rate that there should possible solutions to try and stop this problem that is affecting the older people. This is inappropriate since the risks that are involved in prescriptions of Polypharmacy outsmart the benefits the patients can receive from such prescription. There is the need to find possible solutions to Polypharmacy so as to avoid risking the life or health of patients that are trying to adapt to the condition they are in especially patients with chronic illness such as cancer as it will an overburden. Before prescription of drugs as a possible solution to Polypharmacy, the patients’ medical history should be reviewed as well as keeping updates of the current medical situation of the patient will help greatly in solving the high case of Polypharmacy.

The Problem

Polypharmacy can be a problem when there is too much medication prescription to patients by healthcare workers that is solely done since they work independently. Polypharmacy currently affects 44 percent of men, and 57 percent of women and those that are commonly affected are those that are over 65 years of age, the elderly. It is evident that the about 12 percent of both men and women of the total percentage take about ten or more of the medication weekly. The prescription is facilitated by patients that receive medication in the out-patient or over the counter where there is minimum revision of the medical history of the patient. This is can be every expensive for the patients since they spend a lot of money in the purchase of drugs that only turn out to be risky rather than it being beneficial.

Background

Polypharmacy happens when a patient is prescribed medication that is four or more of drugs that especially comes from the same class of drug. However, this has been viewed to be inappropriate rather than appropriate. It is commonly seen in patients that are trying to manage chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer as well as hypertension and many more chronic illnesses.

Possible Solutions

The possible solutions to Polypharmacy have been developed to helped address the case that has continued to cause harm rather good to many patients. The solutions varied from information that could guide the patients when seeking medical attention, instructions that could be used to educate the patients about what was beneficial and lastly there is also organization on how the patients are to effectively manage their drug usage.

Firstly under information is the use of technologized equipment such as having a well efficient computerized system that could act as a warning system to healthcare providers when they register patients into the database. This will give the information about the patient’s medical condition at present as well as the patient’s allergies. The system will help reduce Polypharmacy in both settings of out and in patients although the process has its limitation because requires a lot of resources such as cost of purchasing such equipment and training process of the staff.

Secondly, under instructions there is the need to review the patient’s medications on a regular basis since may health care providers don’t really know the patients’ medical history, in many occasions there have been cases of discrepancies where patients were given medication that was not actual to what they were supposed to take because the healthcare provider made an error in the prescription. This will help healthcare providers when they approve the patient’s appropriate prescription. Although, the process of review may help many patients there can be errors that can arise from the process due to negligence or the patient might not be able to know more about the prescription they take and give false information.

Recommended Solution

The best solution to Polypharmacy that will be effective will be to educate the patients on the Polypharmacy such as the side effects that the drugs bring to them. This can be done through a properly enhanced communication channel that the healthcare providers and patients could easily relate with to improve safety. The patients could be encouraged to always inform the healthcare providers of the symptoms they due to the drugs they are prescribed to. A study that was conducted shows 63 percent of the events that could have been prevented in good time was due to the healthcare provider failing to respond to the symptoms that resulted due to the prescribed drugs while the same study showed 37 percent of patient’s failed to report about the symptoms they had. They should of be guidance and counseling session that will help boost the information that the best needed since many of them were reluctant or did have the knowledge.  The commission of inquiry should embrace this recommendation that is the best way forward towards ending Polypharmacy.

Conclusion

Polypharmacy among the elderly is still very common. Studies that have been conducted have come out to show that medication prescription to have a number of consequences that turns out to be risky to the patient’s health rather than it being beneficial. However, today research should focus on the necessary solutions to Polypharmacy as well as healthcare providers should be keen on the risks that associate with the unnecessary drug usage by the elderly carry out a comprehensive evaluation of all the patients that seek treatment at their institutions to help fight Polypharmacy.  With the need to educate the patients, it will go a long way in end Polypharmacy as the patients themselves will avoid spending so much in necessary treatment; this will also improve their lives.