Journal of primary health care
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Many qualitative studies examine older people's attitudes towards their medicines. Often these studies focus on the topic of medicines adherence. In contrast, this study aims to explore the attitudes of older people, aged 75 years and older, towards their regular prescription and non-prescription medicines. ⋯ Even taking into account participants' dislike of having to take prescription medicines, they were willing to accept medicines as part of their everyday routine, as they believed they were necessary. This suggests that many older people may be more willing to take their medicines than some studies on adherence in the wider population have indicated.
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The vision for palliative care service provision in New Zealand is for all people who are dying and their families to have timely access to culturally appropriate, quality palliative care services. An Auckland hospice's records show that the ethnically diverse population statistics were not reflected in the referrals for hospice services. The aim of this research was to gain a patient-and-their-family perspective on the hospice, including exploration of components of service care that could be improved for various cultural groups. ⋯ The study revealed the need for information-giving and education, including public profiling of the hospice to strengthen community involvement. Strategies to reduce ethnic disparities include strengthening the awareness of, and access to, services by connecting with cultural groups through churches, community and specific cultural media.
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Editorial Comment
Potentially inappropriate prescribing - moving from process to outcome.
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Multiple medications are recommended for the management of ischaemic heart disease. Unfortunately, increasing the number of medicines reduces adherence to medicines therapy. The concept of a polypill with a fixed dose combination of the common cardiovascular medicines (aspirin, statin, two blood pressure-lowering medicines) has been promoted. Patient perceptions about this concept have not been explored. ⋯ Generally the concept of the polypill was acceptable to participants, primarily because of the convenience and reduced number of tablets required daily. There were concerns about whether the polypill would be as effective and safe as the individual medicines.
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Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) indicate high risk for stroke and rapid management reduces stroke burden. Rapid specialist access to initiate timely management is often challenging to achieve. ⋯ Results indicate that wider implementation of the TIA/Stroke EDS tool is feasible.