Medication Information Management Practices of Older Americans

by Long, Trisha L.

This paper presents the results of a survey of 30 adults aged 55 and older, who had taken multiple prescription medications in the past two years. The purpose of the study was to determine how older adults manage their medication information currently, what information they save and share, and how they wish to manage medication information in an electronic environment, such as a personal health record. Adults in the survey shared information most frequently with their doctors, and with friends and family. They usually shared basic information about a medication, including its name, dose, and the frequency with which it is taken. Nearly half used an artifact, such as a list, to keep track of and share their information. Nearly a third of participants desired to keep an electronic record, suggesting that a percentage of the older adult population would be open to using electronic records to manage medication information.