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Exploring the evidence base for how people with dementia and their informal carers manage their medication in the community : a mixed studies review

Hilton, Andrea; Aston, Lydia; Maidment, Ian; Moutela, Tiago; Shaw, Rachel

Authors

Lydia Aston

Ian Maidment

Tiago Moutela

Rachel Shaw



Abstract

Background: Little is known about the general medicines management issues for people with dementia living in the community. This review has three aims: firstly to explore and evaluate the international literature on how people with dementia manage medication; assess understanding of medicines management from an informal carers perspective; and lastly to understand the role that healthcare professionals play in assisting this population with medicines management. Methods: A mixed studies review was conducted. Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched post-1999 for studies that explored medicines management in people with dementia dwelling in the community, and the role healthcare professionals play in supporting medicines management in people with dementia. Following screening, nine articles were included. Data from included studies were synthesised using a convergent synthesis approach and analysed thematically to combine findings from studies using a range of methods (qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods). Results: Four themes were generated from the synthesis: The nature of the disease and the effects this had on medicines management; the additional responsibilities informal carers have; informal caregivers’ knowledge of the importance of managing medication and healthcare professionals’ understanding of medicines management in people with dementia. Consequently, these were found to affect management of medication, in particular adherence to medication. Conclusions: This review has identified that managing medication for people with dementia dwelling in the community is a complex task with a frequently associated burden on their informal caregivers. Healthcare professionals can be unaware of this burden. The findings warrant the need for healthcare professionals to undergo further training in supporting medicines management for people with dementia in their own homes.

Citation

Hilton, A., Aston, L., Maidment, I., Moutela, T., & Shaw, R. (2017). Exploring the evidence base for how people with dementia and their informal carers manage their medication in the community : a mixed studies review. BMC Geriatrics, 17(1), Article ARTN 242. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0638-6

Acceptance Date Oct 8, 2017
Online Publication Date Oct 18, 2017
Publication Date 2017-12
Deposit Date Oct 24, 2017
Publicly Available Date Oct 24, 2017
Journal BMC geriatrics
Print ISSN 1471-2318
Electronic ISSN 1471-2318
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 1
Article Number ARTN 242
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-017-0638-6
Keywords Dementia, Medicines management, Community, Informal carers, Healthcare professionals
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/455945
Publisher URL https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-017-0638-6
Additional Information Copy of article first published in: BMC geriatrics, 2017, v.17
Contract Date Oct 24, 2017

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