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The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 7, pp. 982-987. DOI 10.1345/aph.1C305
© 2003 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
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GERIATRICS

Self-Administered Medication-Risk Questionnaire in an Elderly Population

Hedva Barenholtz Levy, PharmD BCPS CGP

Pharmacotherapy Specialist, HbL PharmaConsulting, St. Louis, MO, FAX 314/994-9409, E-mail hedva{at}hblpharm.com

Reprints: Hedva Barenholtz Levy PharmD BCPS CGP

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and validate a 10-item self-administered questionnaire for use by elderly patients to identify who is at increased risk of potentially experiencing a medication-related problem (MRP).

METHODS: Forty participants aged >=60 years who took >=2 prescription drugs regularly completed the questionnaire. Data collection was based on patient interviews, review of pharmacy or medical records, and drug regimen reviews (DRRs). Outcome measures included feasibility, inter-rater reliability, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, and validity of the questionnaire. DRR severity scores were determined for each participant based on published guidelines for appropriate use.

RESULTS: The questionnaire was easily administered to this group of older adults. Overall inter-rater reliability was high (r = 0.847). Nine of 10 individual questions matched well between the investigator and participants ({kappa} 0.4–0.6 for 3 questions; >0.6 for 6 questions). Test–retest reliability was significant for all 10 questions ({kappa} > 0.6). Internal consistency was acceptable ({alpha} = 0.69). DRR severity scores were correlated with questionnaire responses to determine validity. The number of yes answers correlated significantly with higher DRR severity scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 5 individual questions significantly correlated with DRR severity scores.

CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a self-administered questionnaire can be used in an older adult population to identify patients potentially at increased risk of MRPs. Clinicians in ambulatory care settings with similar patient populations can use a modified form of the questionnaire to screen for patients who should receive a medication review.

Key Words: elderly, medication-related problems, screening tools

Published Online, May 23, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1C305


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