Date of Award

Spring 5-22-2021

Document Type

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscript

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

K. Sue Hoyt, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, ENP-C, FAEN, FAANP, FAAN

Abstract

About half of the geriatric population who take at least one medication find medication adherence challenging. Average adherence of an elderly patient taking one medication a day is about 80%. This adherence decreases to about 50% for patients taking medications four times a day. Nonadherence can lead to a myriad of preventable adverse effects that can reduce the quality of life and even result in death. In the United States, $100-300 billion could be saved in health care costs due to adverse effects of poor medication adherence. The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) is to improve medication adherence in the elderly population by utilizing telehealth technology. The aim of this project is to increase medication adherence by 90% at the end of the implementation phase. Each participant was contacted using a telehealth modality, which was Doximity’s Dialer app. Each participant was asked about the medications they were taking, including dosage, route, administration times, and their understanding of why they are taking that medication. Participants were asked about any side effects or difficulties refilling medications. Participants were contacted weekly over a 12-week period and asked a series of follow-up questions, including missed doses, doctor visits, and emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations. Primary care providers can utilize telehealth modalities to improve patient care to: increase medication adherence, reinforce medication education, frequently monitor to enable quick and accurate patient/health care provider feedback, implement standardized assessments, tracking tools and individualized treatment, prevent hospital or ED admission related to preventable adverse effect, prevent medication toxicity.

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