Free access to medicines among older adults in primary care: a cross-sectional study.
Journal
Sao Paulo medical journal = Revista paulista de medicina
ISSN: 1806-9460
Titre abrégé: Sao Paulo Med J
Pays: Brazil
ID NLM: 100897261
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2020
Jun 2020
Historique:
received:
10
02
2020
accepted:
19
02
2020
pubmed:
25
6
2020
medline:
13
11
2020
entrez:
25
6
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Access to medicines is an important indicator of healthcare system quality and capacity to resolve problems. The healthcare system needs to ensure free access to medicines for elderly people, in order to provide greater effectiveness of disease control, thus reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving health and quality of life. To analyze the frequency of free access to medication among older adults within primary care and determine the factors associated with free access. Cross-sectional study at two primary care units. Free access was defined as provision of all medicines through pharmacies within the Brazilian National Health System and through the Brazilian program for free medicines in private pharmacies. We investigated the sociodemographic, clinical, functional and pharmacotherapeutic characteristics of older adults. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with free access to medicines. This study included 227 older adults, among whom 91 (40.1%) had free full access to prescription drugs. A direct association with age ≤ 70 years and indirect associations with polypharmacy and multimorbidity (P < 0.05) were found. Age ≤ 70 years increases the likelihood of having free full access to medicines, and older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy use have a lower likelihood of access. Identification of factors associated with free access to medicines among elderly people provides elements to guide the Brazilian National Health System in implementing access improvement actions.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Access to medicines is an important indicator of healthcare system quality and capacity to resolve problems. The healthcare system needs to ensure free access to medicines for elderly people, in order to provide greater effectiveness of disease control, thus reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving health and quality of life.
OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the frequency of free access to medication among older adults within primary care and determine the factors associated with free access.
DESIGN AND SETTING
METHODS
Cross-sectional study at two primary care units.
METHODS
METHODS
Free access was defined as provision of all medicines through pharmacies within the Brazilian National Health System and through the Brazilian program for free medicines in private pharmacies. We investigated the sociodemographic, clinical, functional and pharmacotherapeutic characteristics of older adults. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with free access to medicines.
RESULTS
RESULTS
This study included 227 older adults, among whom 91 (40.1%) had free full access to prescription drugs. A direct association with age ≤ 70 years and indirect associations with polypharmacy and multimorbidity (P < 0.05) were found.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Age ≤ 70 years increases the likelihood of having free full access to medicines, and older adults with multimorbidity and polypharmacy use have a lower likelihood of access. Identification of factors associated with free access to medicines among elderly people provides elements to guide the Brazilian National Health System in implementing access improvement actions.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32578745
pii: S1516-31802020005012106
doi: 10.1590/1516-3180.2019.0541.R1.19022020
pmc: PMC9671230
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
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