OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing the medication self-management capability of home-dwelling older adults with CF and exploring the ways, perceived challenges and barriers in medication self-management.
METHODS: A convergent mixed-method study design was used. The medication management capability of 16 CF individuals aged ≥ 60 years on ≥ 1 long-term prescription drugs were assessed using the Drug Regimen Unassisted Grading Scale (DRUGS). Virtual in-depth interviews were also performed between July-August 2022 using a semi-structured interview guide. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach guided by Bailey and colleagues' model of medication self-management.
RESULTS: The mean DRUGS summary score was 96.86 [standard deviation (SD) 3.74] with highest performance scores observed in medication access (100 %) and lowest performance score in medication identification (91.46 %). Informants were able to independently take their medications and they tended to organise their medication intakes according to mealtime even though some admitted missing medication doses due to forgetfulness. Informants had difficulties with recalling drug names, with little awareness of self-monitoring their own health conditions and the effects of medications. Misconceptions towards medications, difficulties in accessing medications, reduced mobility and worsening health conditions could potentially deter informants from safe and independent medication self-management. In contrast, trust in doctors and a desire to achieve treatment goal could motivate medication self-management.
CONCLUSION: The findings revealed knowledge gaps among older adults with CF in identifying their medications and self-monitoring which warrant reinforcement by healthcare professionals to ensure chronic safe medication use. Future studies should evaluate strategies to enhance medication safety in terms of self-monitoring in individuals with CF.
BACKGROUND: Having a loved one in the ICU is a stressful experience, which may cause psychological distress for family members. Depression, anxiety and stress are the common forms of psychological distress associated with ICU patient's family members. Directly or indirectly, psychological distress may have behavioural or physiological impacts on the family members and ICU patient's recovery.
DESIGN: The study was based on the five-stage methodological framework by Arksey and O'Malley (International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 2005, 8, 19) and were guided by the PRISMA-ScR Checklist.
METHODS: A comprehensive and systematic search was performed in five electronic databases, namely the Scopus, Web of Sciences, CINAHL® Complete @EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect and MEDLINE. Reference lists from the screened full-text articles were reviewed.
RESULTS: From a total of 1252 literature screened, 22 studies published between 2010-2019 were included in the review. From those articles, four key themes were identified: (a) Prevalence of psychological distress; (b) Factors affecting family members; (c) Symptoms of psychological distress; and (d) Impact of psychological distress.
CONCLUSIONS: Family members with a critically ill patient in ICU show high levels of anxiety, depression and stress. They had moderate to major symptoms of psychological distress that negatively impacted both the patient and family members.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The review contributed further insights on psychological distress among ICU patient's family members and proposed psychological interventions that could positively impact the family well-being and improve the patients' recovery.
METHODS: A decision tree model was developed based on literature and expert inputs. An epidemiological projection model was then added to the decision tree to calculate the target population size. The budget impact of adapting the different enteral nutrition (EN) formulas was calculated by multiplying the population size with the costs of the formula and ICU length of stay (LOS). A one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) was conducted to examine the effect each input parameter has on the calculated output.
RESULTS: Replacing SPF with SEF would lower ICU cost by MYR 1059 (USD 216) per patient. The additional cost of increased LOS due to EFI was MYR 5460 (USD 1114) per patient. If the MOH replaces SPF with SEF for ICU patients with high EFI risk (estimated 7981 patients in 2022), an annual net cost reduction of MYR 8.4 million (USD 1.7 million) could potentially be realized in the MOH system. The cost-reduction finding of replacing SPF with SEF remained unchanged despite the input uncertainties assessed via OWSA.
CONCLUSION: Early use of SEF in ICU patients with high EFI risk could potentially lower the cost of ICU care for the MOH system in Malaysia.