Medication literacy: a helpful concept for understanding medication decision making among older adults

Medication literacy: a helpful concept for understanding medication decision making among older adults

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Spotlight (AARP Public Policy Institute)
Author(s):
McSpadden, James, author
Contributor(s):
AARP (Organization), issuing body.
Public Policy Institute (AARP (Organization)), issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : AARP Public Policy Institute, January 2022
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Aged
Health Literacy
Patient Medication Knowledge
Decision Making
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Every day, 45 million older Americans pull out a pillbox, set up an injection, or make other preparations for their daily medication regimen. For some, the routine is quick and easy. For others, the task is complex, involving multiple medications, steps, or dosing schedules. For all, though, the routine is an important part of maintaining health and managing chronic illnesses. But what happens when an older adult doesn't have the facility, language, or knowledge to accurately take their prescribed medications? What are the consequences of an inability to read prescription labels, understand instructions, or manage medication regimens? Health literacy measures have long served as the dominant tools for understanding the gaps in skills, knowledge, and ability to receive health information, understand it, and make informed health care decisions. Yet while these tools provide a helpful starting point, researchers and clinicians have begun to recognize that the measurement of health literacy may be too broad to assess the specific competencies related to medication decision making. As such, they have sought to distinguish medication literacy from health literacy by developing medication literacy instruments and using these tools to better isolate an individual's skills to safely and appropriately use medications. This Spotlight explores the value of measuring medication literacy among older adults.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (7 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918350784506676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918350784506676