Pill for this and a pill for that: A cross‐sectional survey of use and understanding of medication among adults with multimorbidity

ObjectiveTo understand the challenges managing medication use and knowledge of people living with multimorbidity.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey of 234 adults with multimorbidity, identified using retrospective hospital discharge data. Participants were recruited from two primary health organisations in New Zealand.ResultsThree quarters of participants (75%) were prescribed four or more medications, and one in four (27%) were prescribed eight or more medications. Participants reported knowing what their medications were for (88%, 95% CI 81.4–93.8) and when to take them (99%, 95% CI 97.5–99.9). However, over a fifth (22%, 95% CI 13.7–30.4) reported some problems managing multiple medications, and 40% (95% CI 30.2–50.2) reported a problem with side effects.ConclusionThe results highlight the need to consider how prescribing can be adapted for people with multimorbidity and move beyond the application of multiple disease‐specific guidelines.

Pill for this and a pill for that: A cross‐sectional survey of use and understanding of medication among adults with multimorbidity Journal Articles