Análise das bulas de medicamentos e percepção da sua importância pelos idosos

Abstract

Elderly are major consumers of drugs and are at increased risk of problems. Medicines must be accompanied by information to guide their appropriate use. One of the instruments accompanying the product is the package insert. This study investigated the perception of the elderly on the importance of package inserts and if information contained in this document meets this group. It is a documentary, descriptive and transversal study. In February 2013, interviewed 239 elderly patients at a community center in the Federal District, Brazil, through a questionnaire with open and closed questions and the package inserts were collected. 114 package inserts were analyzed using forms of data collection. The results were: 96.23% of elderly consumed medicines on average 3.82 ± 2.56; practice of polypharmacy was 33.47% of cases, 46.44% of elderly reported that they always read the package insert; the habit of reading increased with education, most elderly considered package inserts important for their self-care. As for the inserts analyzed, only 17.54% were in accordance with the rule, RDC 47/2009 (BRAZIL, 2010); specific information for elderly were present in 33.33 % of the patient inserts; specific information about elderly were present in 94 06 % of health professionals package inserts, but this information was 57.09 % according to the literature and only two package inserts had recommendations considered by the Beers criteria (AGS, 2012). It was concluded that the package inserts analyzed were not reliable source of information on elderly pharmacotherapy. The elderly are different from young adults and should be highlighted in the product information. Suggests the creation of leaflets aimed at the needs of the elderly.