Difficulty in Taking Medication for Older Patients

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25350694
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Hyogo University of Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: NOZAKI Sonoko 兵庫医療大学, リハビリテーション学部, 教授 (50463477)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ICHIMURA Kumiko 茨城県立医療大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (00143149) ; KATSURAGI Satoko 兵庫医療大学, 薬学部, 講師 (60608678) ; MIYAMOTO Makoto 関西医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (30411549) ; KURATA Naomi 昭和大学, 薬学部, 教授 (40439401)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 嚥下障害 / 服薬 / 残薬 / アドヒアランス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

<Purpose> Difficulty in taking medication (DTM) results in inaccurate judgments of the effects of treatment with oral medication and impairs medication adherence. We investigated the present situation with regard to difficulty in taking medication.<Methods> DTM is defined as difficulty swallowing or chokes on drugs, swallow three or more times, wash down medication, drug residue or a feeling of residue in the oral cavity, pharynx, or esophagus, or coughs up drugs. We examined 230 patients (at 29 facilities) aged 65 years and older having DTM by a medical professional specializing in dysphagia.<Results> Drug residue was seen in the oral cavity and pharynx in any dosage form in 49% of patients. Medication was self-administered in 25%, regular meals of a non-modified diet were consumed by 30%, and swallowing screening tests were normal in 17%.<Conclusions> Clinical observation and cooperation by medical staff responsible for medication management are therefore necessary.

Free Research Field

神経内科学（神経難病）