scholarly journals Pattern and Factors Associated with Medicine Usage in Middle-aged Adults: a Population Based Cross-Sectional Study

Folia Medica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-432
Author(s):  
Ermira Krasniqi ◽  
Mynyr Koni ◽  
Idriz Berisha ◽  
Arben Boshnjaku

Abstract Aim: The present study analyzes the adherence phenomenon and possible correlations between active individuals and their educational status on the prevalence of medicine use in the population of a young and developing country such as Kosova. Materials and methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, research study including a total number of 162 subjects aged 40-65 years residents of Kosova. Gender distribution was: 32.7% males and 67.3% females. Assessments of medication adherence and compliance, the level of physical activity (PA), and education were made by reliable and validated questionnaires. Results: Analyzing medication compliance, of 162 interviewed subjects, 29.6% (32.1% males and 28.4% females) and 27.2% (22.6% males and 29.3% females) responded that they sometimes forget to take their medicines, or that they stop taking them for reasons other than forgetting. Meanwhile, 40.1% declared that they usually stopped the medicine only because they felt better, 38.9% claimed to have stopped the medicine because they believed they felt worse, whereas more than half of our study responders declared having problem with buying the medicine. Regarding PA, significantly better results (p<0.05) in medicine use were shown by subjects with higher PA level in our population. Additionally, higher levels of education correlated with lower amount of medication consumption. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest for certain lack of adherence, difficulties and information related to medicine use. Consequently this raises the need for public education on the medication adherence and life style factors such as PA for the success of the treatment.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaorong Li ◽  
Xuewen pang ◽  
Fan Zhang

Abstract Backgroud Poor tuberculosis (TB) medication adherence increases the risk of treatment failure and development of drug-resistant TB, while universal implementation of directly observed therapy (DOT) is not feasible in China. EHealth technologies were reported to be promising patient-centered tools for improving adherence. However, only pilot studies have assessed patients’ experiences and the results were discrepant. Methods This cross sectional study study was conducted among TB patients at the outpatient department from 3 March 2019 to 30 May 2020 in Tianjin, China. Data were downloaded from the Tuberculosis doctor App and TB Information Management System (TBIMS), and merged them using the TBIMS notification number. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors associated with regualar drug-intake. Odds ratios and 95% confident intervals were estimated with and without adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity and occupation. Results A total of 1193 TB patients were recruited, of whom 33.28% (397) patients were regular drug-intake. The whole drug-intake rate was 84.84%, except for the first month, the drug-intake rate decreased with the increase of monthly treatment sequence. After adjustment by age, gender, ethnicity and occupation, tuberculosis pleurisy (aOR: 0.42, 95CI%=0.26-0.69) and retreated patients (aOR: 0.40, 95CI% =0.27-0.59) were more likely to have poor medication compliance. Local resident tend to have better medication compliance (aOR: 1.80, 95CI% =1.16-2.79).Conclusions The medication adherence at the first month should be noticed. Medication adherence was poor in tuberculosis pleuritis and retreated patients, while local resident tend to have better medication adherence. To make full use of the application of eHealth in TB patient management, more incentive measures should be adopted for patients and doctors respectively.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 989-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Merly Martinelli ◽  
Creso Machado Lopes ◽  
Pascoal Torres Muniz ◽  
Orivado Florencio de Souza

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the associations between smoking and socioeconomic status, and to analyze the profile of smokers in the city of Rio Branco, Acre. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study conducted with 1,512 adults living in urban and rural areas. Information about demographic aspects, socioeconomic status and smoking habits were collected through home interviews. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios with their respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of smoking was of 19.9%. Males had a higher prevalence (22.7%) in contrast to females (17.6%). By age, a higher prevalence was observed at 50 - 59 years in males (30.9%) and at 40 - 49 years in females (23.8%). A linear trend was observed between the higher prevalence of smoking and the lower amount of years of education and income (p < 0.05). The profile of smokers indicated that the majority, in both genders, began smoking at age 15, smoked between 1 and 10 cigarettes per day, lit the first cigarette of the day 60 minutes after waking up and had tried to quit smoking at least twice. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of smoking is a relevant public health problem in Rio Branco. Community actions must be implemented for the prevention and control of tobacco use.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Cuschieri ◽  
Julian Mamo

Abstract Background Depression is an ever more common chronic non communicable disease and its control constitutes a growing public health concern given its links with a number of co-morbidities, including diabetes mellitus. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression at a population level across groups of different glycaemic status, whilst establishing its socioeconomic phenotypic characteristics.Methods A nationally representative cross-sectional study was conducted in Malta between 2014 and 2016. Participants were categorized into different sub-populations according to their glycaemic status. Depression prevalence rates and socio-economic characteristics for each sub-population were established. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify links with depression.Results Depression was prevalent in 17.15% (CI 95%: 16.01 – 18.36) with a female predominance. The normoglycaemic sub-population had the highest depression rates. However, persons with known diabetes had a higher probability of having a history of depression (OR:2.36 CI 95%:1.12 – 4.96), as well as with being of the female gender, having lower educational status, having a history of smoking tobacco and having established cardiovascular disease.Conclusions Depression was highly prevalent among the normoglycaemic population especially as age progress. Physicians in primary care should implement a depression screening tool as part of their routine health check-ups, with special attention to those with cardiovascular co-morbidities and any signs of psycho-socio-economic burden.


Author(s):  
Saurabh Ahlawat ◽  
Vikrant Aggarwal ◽  
Rakesh Kumar

Background: Medication adherence is an important issue in the treatment and management of persons with psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia. Apart from side effects and inefficient outcomes of psychiatric medications, substance abuse also complicates the adherence pattern to the prescribed medications. Present study was designed to estimate the magnitude of medication non-adherence and its correlates in patients with schizophrenia having co-morbid psychoactive substance use.Method: The 60 schizophrenic patients with active substance use were taken from OPD of institute of mental health and hospital, Agra. Positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST), medication adherence rating scale (MARS) and Morisky 8-item medication adherence questionnaire (MMAQ-8) were used to gather relevant clinical data along with a proforma for recording socio-demographic characteristics.Results: The results revealed an alarming level of medication adherence. The 91.7% sample (55 patients) met the criteria for medication non-adherence. Majority of the patients were using alcohol (58.3%) and cannabis (51.7%). Conclusions: Given the high rate of medication non-compliance it is suggested that specific intervention aimed at compliance to prescribed medication is needed in this population.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dessalegn Asmelashe Gelayee ◽  
Gashaw Binega

Background.The extent, nature, and determinants of medication use of individuals can be known from drug utilization studies.Objectives.This study intended to determine medication consumption, sharing, storage, and disposal practices of university students in Northwest Ethiopia.Methods.A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 university students selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20 statistical software. Pearson’s Chi-square test of independence was conducted withP<0.05taken as statistically significant.Results.At 95.3% response rate, the prevalences of medication consumption and sharing were 35.3% (N=136) and 38.2% (N=147), respectively. One hundred (26%) respondents admitted that they often keep leftover medications for future use while the rest (N=285, 74%) discard them primarily into toilets (N=126, 44.2%). Evidence of association existed between medication taking and year of study (P=0.048), medication sharing and sex (P=0.003), and medication sharing and year of study (P=0.015).Conclusion.There is a high prevalence of medication consumption, medication sharing, and inappropriate disposal practices which are influenced by sex and educational status of the university students. Thus medication use related educational interventions need to be given to students in general.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Brandstetter ◽  
Tanja Poulain ◽  
Mandy Vogel ◽  
Christof Meigen ◽  
Michael Melter ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with young children in two population-based childhood cohorts with a low and moderate COVID-19 prevalence, respectively.MethodsA cross-sectional study using online questionnaires in families from LIFE Child (n=306, Leipzig) and KUNO Kids (n=612, Regensburg) was performed at the end of the German lock-down period. Outcomes were parent-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family life, concerns and trust in political measures.ResultsMost families were concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and lock-down measures, with major concerns directed towards the economic situation (>70%), the health of close-ones (37%), but less towards their own health (<10%). Many concerns, seeking information and approval of federal measures were more pronounced in the more affected region. Approval of lockdown measures and concerns about economic recession were related to regional differences and not significantly dependent on educational status or being personally affected by the disease.ConclusionRegional differences in approval of lockdown measures were observed and thus, measures to specifically support families according to the regional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are needed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 129-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Heidari ◽  
Awat Feizi ◽  
Leila Azadbakht ◽  
Nizal Sarrafzadegan

Abstract. Background: Minerals are required for the body’s normal function. Aim: The current study assessed the intake distribution of minerals and estimated the prevalence of inadequacy and excess among a representative sample of healthy middle aged and elderly Iranian people. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the second follow up to the Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS), 1922 generally healthy people aged 40 and older were investigated. Dietary intakes were collected using 24 hour recalls and two or more consecutive food records. Distribution of minerals intake was estimated using traditional (averaging dietary intake days) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) methods, and the results obtained from the two methods, were compared. The prevalence of minerals intake inadequacy or excess was estimated using the estimated average requirement (EAR) cut-point method, the probability approach and the tolerable upper intake levels (UL). Results: There were remarkable differences between values obtained using traditional and NCI methods, particularly in the lower and upper percentiles of the estimated intake distributions. A high prevalence of inadequacy of magnesium (50 - 100 %), calcium (21 - 93 %) and zinc (30 - 55 % for males > 50 years) was observed. Significant gender differences were found regarding inadequate intakes of calcium (21 - 76 % for males vs. 45 - 93 % for females), magnesium (92 % vs. 100 %), iron (0 vs. 15 % for age group 40 - 50 years) and zinc (29 - 55 % vs. 0 %) (all; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Severely imbalanced intakes of magnesium, calcium and zinc were observed among the middle-aged and elderly Iranian population. Nutritional interventions and population-based education to improve healthy diets among the studied population at risk are needed.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e041755
Author(s):  
Srinivas Marmamula ◽  
Satya Brahmanandam Modepalli ◽  
Thirupathi Reddy Kumbham ◽  
Rajesh Challa ◽  
Jill E Keeffe

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of disabilities (vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care and communication) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the elderly population in two districts in Telangana, India.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study using a cluster random sampling method to select the study clusters.SettingElderly population in Khammam and Warangal districts were recruited. Detailed interviews were conducted by trained community health workers. Personal and demographic information such as age, gender, level of education and a self-report of NCDs was collected. The Washington Disability Questionnaire was administered to assess the presence of disabilities.Participants1821 participants aged ≥60 years, 54.5% were women, and 73.3% had no education.Primary outcome measurePrevalence of disabilities and NCDs.ResultsOverall, the prevalence of at least disability was 20.3% (95% CI 16.3 to 24.9). The prevalence of self- reported disabilities were: seeing (5.9%; 95% CI 4.4 to 7.8), mobility (12.8%; 95% CI 9.7 to 16.8), hearing (3.6%; 95% CI 2.7 to 4.8), cognition (4.8%; 95% CI 3.5 to 6.7), self-care (3.3%; 95% CI 2.3 to 4.7) and communication (1.8%; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6). Overall, the prevalence of at least one NCD was 34.2% (95% CI 30.9 to 37.7). Hypertension was the most common systemic condition (25.4%; 95% CI 22.4 to 28.7), followed by diabetes (9.0%; 95% CI 7.3 to 11.0), and body pains (muscle-skeletal) (9.9%; 95% CI 8.1 to 12.2).ConclusionEvery fifth elderly person in the districts of Khammam and Warangal in Telangana had at least one self-reported disability. Besides, a third of the elderly had at least one NCD. There is a definite need to develop comprehensive public health strategies to address disabilities and NCDs in Telangana.


Breast Care ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Elna Kuehnle ◽  
Wulf Siggelkow ◽  
Kristina Luebbe ◽  
Iris Schrader ◽  
Karl-Heinz Noeding ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Although immigrant health is an important issue in national health policy, there is a serious shortage of data in many countries. Most studies lack information on educational status, which is a major limitation. This prospective cross-sectional study analyzed a real-world breast cancer population on the influence of immigration background and educational status on participation in breast cancer early detection programs in the federal state of Lower Saxony, Germany. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Data collection was conducted from 2012 to 2016 in six certified breast cancer centers using a standardized questionnaire for patients’ interview and tumor-specific data from the patients’ medical records. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 2,145/3,047 primary breast cancer cases were analyzed. 17.5% of our patients had a history of immigration, including <i>n</i> = 202 first-generation immigrants and <i>n</i> = 168 second-generation immigrants. Most of them were citizens of EU27 member states. No significant difference was seen in age, tumor stage, histology, grading, Ki-67, Her2/neu-status, and hormone receptor status compared to the native cohort. 100% participation rate in the breast cancer early detection programs were seen in patients with no school graduation. With regards to the national mammography screening program, participation decreased significantly with educational status (<i>p</i> = 0.0003). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> No tumor biological differences were seen between immigrants and German natives. In first-generation immigrants, early detection programs were well accepted despite sociocultural and language differences. Participation rate decreased significantly with higher education levels irrespective of country of origin. Immigration background does not have a negative effect on the participation in breast cancer screening. This mainly relates to immigrants from EU27 member states.


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