Use of chronic medication: Evaluation of the prevalence in northern Portugal

Authors

  • CIF Cima Médica de Família na USF Ermesinde, ACES Grande Porto III-Valongo.
  • RSA Freitas Médica de Família na USF Canelas, ACES Grande Porto IX-Espinho/Gaia.
  • MCM Lamas Médica de Família na USF S.Martinho, ACES Tâmega II-Vale Sousa Sul.
  • CASL Mendes Médica de Família na USF Ermesinde, ACES Grande Porto III-Valongo.
  • AC Neves Médica de Família na USF S.Gonçalo, ACES Tâmega I-Baixo Tâmega.
  • C Fonseca Médica de Família na USF Garcia de Orta, ACES Grande Porto VI - Porto Ocidental.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i1.10815

Keywords:

Polypharmacy, Medication Therapy Management, Drug Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: It is necessary to know the chronic prescription, with a view towards the implement of measures to control, to prevent their complications and to optimise the available resources. The aims of that study were: to determine the proportion of adult patients chronically-medicated in the north of Portugal; to characterise the consumption, as far as the type and number of medicines are concerned, and to analyse their association with age, gender, professional situation, marital status and type of family. Methodology: Transversal analytical study with gather of data through questionnaires. Random sample of 45 doctors patients of health centres from the north of Portugal. Variables studied were consumption of chronicle medication, type of medicines, number of medicines, demographic variations. Used test chi-squared, a=0,05. Results: Consumptions prevalence = 58,1%. Average number of medicines per patient = 2,94. The most used medicines were those from the cardiovascular and nervous system groups. There was found an association between chronicle consumption and females, elder ages, jobs (retired or housekeepers) and single-element families. The average number of medicine rises with the age. There is a relation between the age and most of the studied pharmacological groups. Discussion: This study allowed confirming, in a bigger population, the results in literature and reinforces the necessity of optimising the prescription of medicines.

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Published

2011-01-01

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2011): Revista Portuguesa de Clínica Geral

Section

Original Research

License

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How to Cite

Use of chronic medication: Evaluation of the prevalence in northern Portugal. (2011). Portuguese Journal of Family Medicine and General Practice, 27(1), 20-7. https://doi.org/10.32385/rpmgf.v27i1.10815