The Importance of Treatment Compliance. Health Education Programme targeting the Elderly on the Correct Use of Medicines (PESGG)

Transcription

1 The Importance of Treatment Compliance Health Education Programme targeting the Elderly on the Correct Use of Medicines (PESGG)

2 WHAT DOES PROPER USE OF MEDICINES MEAN? WHY DO WE NEED TO USE MEDICINES CORRECTLY?

3 What can we remember from the last session? Know the medicines you take What for? How much? How often? For how long? How? Do I need to take any precautions? How should I store this medicine? Tell your doctor everything you take Medicines prescribed by other doctors Herbal teas, medicinal plants Food supplements Self-medication Other remedies Follow the instructions given by your doctor Always with a glass of water Don't skip any doses Don't stop taking medicines unless expressly instructed to do so by the doctor or pharmacist Check your Medication Plan; it tells you how and when you must take your medicines

4 What do we need to know when taking a medicine? WHAT FOR? HOW? Do we need to take any? PRECAUTIONS? FOR HOW LONG?? HOW OFTEN? HOW MUCH? How should we STORE this medicine?

5 WHAT DOES PROPER USE OF MEDICINES MEAN? It means using a medicine in accordance with the instructions given by the doctor or pharmacist. This ensures that use of the medicine will be NECESSARY, EFFECTIVE and SAFE. What can happen if we don't use medicines correctly? PROBLEMS WITH MEDICINES

6 we don't remember what it is used for? WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? We've been taking it for a long while. Nobody wrote down what it was used for. We didn't understand the explanation we were given. My next-door neighbour recommended it. We kept it in the medicine cabinet. SOLUTIONS We ask before taking medicines that we don't know what they are used for. We always ask our doctor or pharmacist. We write down what we take the medicine for on the pack.

7 ...we take more than we should? Medicines may have risks if they are not taken in the right doses. They may have increased TOXICITY and they are LESS BENEFICIAL for our health. WHY DO WE DO THIS? The dose the doctor told us doesn't work. We don't remember what he told us. We don't know if we have applied it properly. We missed a dose and we want to make up for it. SOLUTIONS We write down the dose we take on the pack. We discuss it with our doctor or pharmacist if we do this because the medicine doesn't work. We keep the Medication Plan nearby and we consult it.

8 we stop taking a medicine? If we stop taking a medicine that we need, THE DISEASE MAY WORSEN. The fact that we feel well when we take it means that the medicine is working to treat our disease. WHY DO WE DO THIS? We feel well. We forget. The medicine's effects impact on our daily activities. We take an alternative medicine. SOLUTIONS We discuss it with our doctor or pharmacist to see if there are alternatives that we feel more comfortable with. Before making any change, we discuss it with our doctor or pharmacist.

9 ...we take them for longer than necessary? Medicines may have risks if we take them for longer than we need. They can mask other, more serious diseases. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? SOLUTIONS We don't remember when we had to stop the treatment. Just in case... To finish the pack. Because we have the sensation that we need it. We write down on the pack how long we have to take the medicine for. We keep the Medication Plan nearby and we consult it. When we have doubts like these, we discuss it with our doctor or pharmacist.

10 we don't know how they are taken or applied? The medicine doesn't have the same benefits for our health and it may have risks. WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? This is the first time we are taking it. We thought we had understood. We didn't remember to ask how we should take it. We asked but we've forgotten. SOLUTIONS We shouldn t feel embarrassed to ask as many times as we need. Ask them to write it down for us. If we write it in the Medication Plan, we will always have it close at hand. We can also find out by reading the package insert.

11 A reminder about how they are taken or applied (entry routes) Oral Inhaled Ophthalmic Topical and transdermal Nasal Otic Parenteral Vaginal Rectal

12 A reminder about how they are taken or applied Taking medicines with or without food may alter their effect: What do we mean when we say take the medicine on an EMPTY STOMACH? It means 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. What do we mean when we say take the medicine DURING MEALS? While I am eating and until 30 minutes after having eaten. Applications... If they must be on clean, dry skin, better after a shower. However, with shampoos and soapy solutions, better during the shower.

13 we don't take into account what we take certain medicines with? If the medicine's effect is altered because we take other medicines, medicinal plants or foods, we say that there has been a DRUG-RELATED INTERACTION. Examples: Sintrom Iron supplement Antibiotic There are interactions that cause our medication to not have the desired effect

14 we don't take into account our medical background? The fact that a person cannot take a certain medicine because of a personal condition is what defines the concept of CONTRAINDICATION. Examples: Impaired renal function and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Allergy and intolerances. Arterial hypertension.

15 we take certain medicines instead of others by mistake? WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? We are given a different pack each time. We don't know what's in them. The doctors frequently change our treatment. SOLUTIONS We ask the pharmacist to help us identify each medicine. Learning to read the pack will help us to not make mistakes. We ask about the tools available at the pharmacy (SPD).

16 we're not sure that we need it? WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? We have doubts about what the medicine will do. We've had an adverse reaction in the past. The doctor has changed our medicine. The pack is different every time. SOLUTIONS We shouldn't feel embarrassed to ask, our health will benefit. Your pharmacist will clear up any doubts you may have.

17 we don't store the medicine correctly? The medicine may spoil and not give us all the benefit it should or it may cease to be effective. Examples: Insulin Eye drops Syrups that must be prepared SOLUTIONS Ask the pharmacist how we should store the medicine. Write on the pack the date we opened eye drops and other medicines where this is advisable.

18 What do we need to know when taking a medicine? WHAT FOR? HOW? Do I need to take any PRECAUTIONS?? FOR HOW LONG? HOW OFTEN?? HOW MUCH? How should I STORE this medicine? Knowing why we are given the medicines we take will help us take them correctly

19 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ASK YOUR DOCTOR OR CHEMIST

20 Thank you for your attention

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