Korean J Clin Pharm.  2016 Mar;26(1):24-32. 10.0000/kjcp.2016.26.1.24.

Qualitative Study for Medication Use among Visually Impaired in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1College of Pharmacy & Yonsei Institute of Phamaceutical Sciences, Yonsei University, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea. eunahan@yonsei.ac.kr
  • 2College of Pharmacy & Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea.
  • 3College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
The visually impaired have limited access to health care services and related information, and thus, they can have serious hurdles against properly taking medications. Despite that it is important to improve self-care ability of the visually impaired for correct medication use, there have been few studies investigating their needs for health care services in Korea, particularly focusing on proper medication usage. This study is to explore safety-related issues regarding mediation usage among the visually impaired based on in-depth interview. We particularly focus on any obstacles for safe use of medicines including experience on medication-related adverse effects in order to provide preliminary evidence for policy measures to improve proper medication use among the visually impaired.
METHODS
Study sample was visually impaired individuals who resided in Seoul area and were registered in the National Association of Visually Impaired. The association helped the process of recruiting the study participants. In-depth interview for each study participants was conducted. Each interview was recorded and later converted into a written script to extract core contents for the analysis.
RESULTS
The study participants comprised of three women (42.9%) and four men (57.1%). One was in his 20's, and there were four participants in 30's and two in 40's. Fully impaired participants were majority (5 out of 7). Limitation to physical access to health care providers and health information were the key factors to hamper safe medication utilization among the study participants. Difficulty reading medication information and may take the wrong medication or incorrect doses of medication, resulting in serious consequences, including overdose or inadequate treatment of health problems. Visually impaired patients report increased anxiety related to medication management and must rely on others to obtain necessary drug information. Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to pursue accurate medication adherence in this special population. This article reviews literature illustrating how severe medication mismanagement can occur in the visually impaired elderly and presents resources and solutions for pharmacists to take a larger role in adherence management in this population.
CONCLUSION
The visually impaired had difficulties reading medication information and identifying medicines, and took incorrect doses of medications. Public support for safe medication use and medication management among the visually impaired is necessary.

Keyword

Visually impaired; safe medication use; qualitative study; in-depth-interview

MeSH Terms

Aged
Anxiety
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Korea*
Male
Medication Adherence
Negotiating
Pharmacists
Self Care
Seoul
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