RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To assess the usage, knowledge and attitudes of elderly individuals living in residential homes in the Anatolian region of Istanbul, with particular reference to analgesic/nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antihypertensives. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 247 representative individuals who were >or= 65 years old, and were living in residential homes in Istanbul. They scored >or= 24 in a Mini Mental Status Examination and were not suffering from speech, understanding or expression disorders, nor was any serious disease included in the study. Each medication that participants held, was recorded at sight. After asking about the dose, frequency, duration, purpose and side effects related with antihypertensives and analgesic/NSAIDs, the individual's weight, height and blood pressure were measured and activities of daily living and falling status were evaluated. RESULTS: 47% of the participants were male and the mean age was 76 +/- 7.2 years. 47% of the participants were using antihypertensives and 45% of them were using analgesic/NSAIDs. 30% of subjects who declared that they had hypertension were not on therapy. There was a statistically significant relationship between NSAID usage and having hypertension (p = 0.013, OR 2.064, 95% CI 1.16 - 3.65). 78 of the antihypertensive and 88% of the analgesic/NSAIDs users explained the purpose of the drug usage properly. However, only 9 and 18% were aware of the effects, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although these results suggest that regarding the antihypertensive and analgesic/NSAIDs administration, individuals were treated with proper drugs and doses, but a considerable number of old people are not sufficiently aware about their diseases and drugs.
Asunto(s)
Antiinflamatorios no Esteroideos/uso terapéutico , Antihipertensivos/uso terapéutico , Utilización de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Instituciones Residenciales/estadística & datos numéricos , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Masculino , Polifarmacia , TurquíaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Barriers to widespread use of hormonal emergency contraceptives (EC), such as lack of knowledge and prejudices held by health-care providers, still exist today. This study was initiated to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and prejudices of family-planning (FP) providers. METHODS: This survey was conducted in FP units of primary-health-care centers in Istanbul. A total of 180 providers were interviewed in 80 units to whom a questionnaire was administered by face-to-face technique. RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty-two of the providers stated that they had heard of EC. The correct timing and dose interval of EC were known by 50% of them. The participants held the belief that EC caused abortion (39.4%), and that it was harmful for the fetus (31.1%). Other prejudices were the possibility of increased unprotected sexual intercourse (78.9%) and a tendency for men to give up condom use (75%); female providers were more prejudiced concerning these statements. The providers' tendency towards the provision of counseling was significantly related to their prejudices (p = 0.011, p = 0.033) and to the application rate (p = 0.000). Conclusion Providers need more detailed information about EC. During FP training courses, the providers should be encouraged towards counseling EC which would increase the application rate of the users and decrease their own prejudices.