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Factors Associated with Medicine Use and Non-use by Ontario Seniors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2010

Peri J. Ballantyne ,
J. Charles Victor ,
Judith E. Fisher  and
Joan A. Marshman
Peri J. Ballantyne*
Affiliation:
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto Department of Public Health Science, University of Toronto
J. Charles Victor
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Science, University of Toronto
Judith E. Fisher
Affiliation:
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
Joan A. Marshman
Affiliation:
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
*
Requests for offprints should be sent to: / Les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être addressées à : Peri J. Ballantyne, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, 19 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S2. (p.ballantyne@utoronto.ca)
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Abstract

While there is growing evidence of the increasing use of medicines by the elderly, research undertaken to critically examine differences among types of medicine users in this population is limited. Using population data, we examine the influence of social, demographic, and health-related factors on likelihood of being a non-user, a user of non-prescribed medicines only, or a user of prescription medicines only. We find some evidence of the rational use of drugs (i.e., those who are in better health are more likely to be non-users or to use non-prescribed medicines than those who are in poor health) and of rational explanations for reported use (i.e., being female is associated with less likelihood of non-use or exclusive use of non-prescription medicines than being male). Further analysis of the medicine-use patterns and decisions of elderly men and of those of elderly persons who are widowed or separated/divorced is warranted.

Résumé

Bien qu'il y ait de plus en plus de preuves d'une augmentation de la consommation de médicaments par les personnes âgées, il y a relativement peu de recherches entreprises pour effectuer un examen critique des différences entre les types de consommateurs de médicaments au sein de cette population. À l'aide de données sur la population, nous étudions l'influence des facteurs sociaux, démographiques et de santé sur la probabilité de ne pas consommer de médicaments, de consommer uniquement des médicaments sans ordonnance ou de consommer uniquement des médicaments délivrés sur ordonnance. Nous avons relevé des indications selon lesquelles les médicaments étaient utilisés de façon rationnelle (c'est-à-dire que ceux qui étaient en meilleure santé avaient plus de chances de ne pas en consommer ou de consommer des médicaments sans ordonnance que ceux qui avaient une mauvaise santé) ainsi que des explications rationnelles pour l'utilisation déclarée (c'est-à-dire que les femmes avaient moins de chances que les hommes de ne pas consommer de médicaments ou de consommer uniquement des médicaments sans ordonnance). D'autres analyses sur les habitudes et les décisions relatives à la consommation de médicaments par des hommes âgés ainsi que par des personnes âgées dont le conjoint est décédé, qui sont séparées ou divorcées, seraient nécessaires.

Keywords

agingelderlymedicine use and non-useprescription medicinesnon-prescription medicinesvieillissementpersonnes âgéesconsommation de médicamentsabsence de consommationmédicaments sur ordonnancemédicaments sans ordonnance
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , Winter/Hiver 2005 , pp. 419 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2005

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