[Nursing diagnoses of elderly patients using multiple drugs]

Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2010 Mar;44(1):47-52.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Considering that elderly people using multiple drugs are prone to a higher vulnerability of their health conditions, in this study we proposed to identify nursing diagnoses, according to NANDA's taxonomy II, in a group of elderly people who use five or more drugs. Sixty-seven elderly people were selected using the Wide Geriatric Evaluation (WGE), out of 301 elderly residents from a Family Health Program (PSF) unit. All of the 67 seniors presented a total 16 diagnostic categories, an average of 5.2 diagnostics/elderly: 59.7% of them having chronic pain; 58.2% with impaired physical mobility; 47.7% with unbalanced nutrition: more than the body needs; and 47.7% have an inefficient control of the therapeutic regimen, among others. These diagnoses reveal the need for measures involving changes in lifestyle, as well as a systematic following of these elderly people.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Geriatrics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Diagnosis*
  • Polypharmacy*