Facts about the project
Project manager
Lina Hellström, licensed Pharmacist, Farmacie dr, Linnaeus University and Region Kalmar County
Other project members
Malin Johansson Östbring, Tora Hammar, Göran Petersson, Maria Qvarfordt, Pauline Johansson, Linnéuniversitetet, Tommy Eriksson, Malmö Universitet; Victoria Throfast, the Swedish eHealth Agency
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, Region Kalmar County
Financier
The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research & Charity, Forss (Research Council of Southeast Sweden), Region Kalmar County
Timetable
2012-2021
Subject
Medicine (Department of Medicine and Optometry, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
More about the project
Background
The project ”Appropriate use of medicines among the elderly in Småland” aims to improve use of medicines to contribute to better health. This can be achieved by individualising treatment to a higher degree, to improve patient adherence to drug treatment, and to improve knowledge about medicines among patients, their relatives and health care staff.
Method
The following studies is part of the project:
- Trends in Inappropriate Drug Therapy Prescription in the Elderly in Sweden from 2006 to 2013. (Finalised)
- Web-based education about medications among the elderly for resident physicians: a pilot study. (Finalised)
- Motivational Interviewing and Medication Review in Coronary Heart Disease: a randomised controlled trial.
- Web-based education in the field of drug utilization for elderly individuals: a randomised controlled trial.
- Elderly’s experience of generic drug substitution: a qualitative study.
Results
- Six of the eight indicators for appropriate drug use showed an improvement over time; the remaining two indicators (drugs with anticholinergic effects and excessive polypharmacy) remained relatively unchanged.
- The web-based education was an effective way to educate resident physicians.
- The results from the study Motivational Interviewing and Medication Review will be published in 2020 and described within the project ”Drug use in Coronary Heart Disease”.
- The web-based education improved drug utilization knowledge in elderly individuals.
- Twelve elderly have been interviewed and data is being analysed. To summarise - this project will increase our knowledge about the effects of different interventions on elderlies use of medicines, their medication knowledge and quality of life.
The project is part of the research at the eHealth Institute.
