Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medication Reconciliation in Frail Elderly People at Hospital Discharge: Perception of Healthcare Professionals

María Jesús Rojas-Ocaña, E. Begoña García-Navarro (), Sonia García-Navarro, María Eulalia Macías-Colorado, Servando Manuel Baz-Montero and Miriam Araujo-Hernández
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María Jesús Rojas-Ocaña: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Huelva, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, s/n, 21007 Huelva, Spain
E. Begoña García-Navarro: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Huelva, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, s/n, 21007 Huelva, Spain
Sonia García-Navarro: Distrito Huelva Costa Condado Campiña, Andalusian Health Service, 21700 Huelva, Spain
María Eulalia Macías-Colorado: Distrito Huelva Costa Condado Campiña, Andalusian Health Service, 21700 Huelva, Spain
Servando Manuel Baz-Montero: Distrito Huelva Costa Condado Campiña, Andalusian Health Service, 21700 Huelva, Spain
Miriam Araujo-Hernández: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Enfermería, Universidad de Huelva, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas, s/n, 21007 Huelva, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: The current demographic panorama in Spain corresponds to an aging population; this situation is characterized by the need to care for an elderly population, which contains polymedicated and pluripathological individuals. Polymedication is a criterion of frailty in the elderly and a risk factor for mortality and morbidity due to the increased risk of drug interactions and medication errors. There are numerous studies that measure reconciliation at hospital discharge and at admission, and even the methodology of reconciliation, but we have not found many studies that measure reconciliation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic from the point of view of health professionals regarding difficulties and the strategies carried out, which is essential to begin to glimpse solutions. Methods. This was a qualitative study based on 21 in-depth interviews and two discussion groups, conducted between January and April 2021 (13 nurses and 8 doctors, in rural and urban areas). The discourse was analyzed according to the Taylor–Bodgan model and processed using Atlas.ti software. Results. The areas altered by the health crisis were access to patients, their reconciliation of medication, and changes in the care modality, including the greater use of telephone communication, changes in work organization, and time dedicated to patient care and family work. Difficulties encountered during COVID-19: change in medication format, the specific characteristics of the patient and their pathologies, and difficulties arising from communication with the patient and their family. The strategies applied: the collaboration of home assistants and caregivers, emphasis on patient–health professional communication, and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Conclusion. The discharge was interrupted by the health crisis caused by COVID-19, in terms of both the traditional access of patients and by the remote care modalities generated by telemedicine.

Keywords: medication reconciliation at hospital discharge; COVID-19 pandemic; professional perceptions; polymedicated elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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