Cognitive functions and situations of rational medication use of individuals age 65 and over with stroke

This study was conducted to determine the cognitive functions and rational drug use status of stroke individuals aged 65 and over. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 82 individuals over 65 years of age, hospitalized with the diagnosis of stroke in the Neurology Service of Amasya Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Training and Research Hospital between 04 August 2021 and 14 February 2022. In the study, data were collected using the Patient Information Form, the Rational Drug Use Inpatient Questionnaire and the Standardized Mini-Mental Test. Institutional permission and ethics committee permission required for the study were obtained, and an informed consent form was signed by the individuals participating in the study. According to the Post Hoc Power analysis, the power of the research was determined as 80%. P<0.05 was accepted as statistical significance level. 81.7% of stroke individuals have ischemic stroke, 70.7% are under 75 years of age; It was determined that 57.3% of them were male and 46.3% of them were primary school graduates. It was determined that 42.7% of the individuals were in good general health, 79.3% of them frequently applied to the state/educational research hospital, and 54.9% of them applied to a health institution every three months. Of the individuals, 72% were diagnosed with hypertension, 98.8% had regular medication, 40.2% were using 5 or more medications, 53.7% were using medication for 3-6 years, 80.5% It was determined that they knew the effects of the drugs they used, 47.6% did not pay attention to the expiration date of the drugs, and 58.5% used self-medication. 57.3% of stroke individuals can use their remaining drugs after treatment when necessary, 69.5% have 1-5 boxes of drugs that have never been used or unfinished at home, and 48.8% have 1-3 boxes every year without even opening the box. It was determined that the drug was thrown away because its expiration date has passed. It was determined that 47.6% of stroke individuals received information from someone they knew when they wanted to use the drugs at home again, and 43.9% did not receive information from anyone because they had used them before. It was determined that 58.5% of them had drugs before they became sick, with the thought that they might be necessary, and 57.3% of them had painkillers at home with the thought that they might be needed. The total mean score of the mini mental test for the uneducated was 24.80±1.43 and 25.67±2.01 for the educated. A significant difference was found between cognitive performance and gender, the methods used to evaluate health in general, the frequency of admission to health institutions, and the methods used to distinguish while drinking drugs (p<0.05). It has been determined that stroke individuals aged 65 and over show behaviors that do not comply with the principles of rational drug use. It can be recommended to investigate the factors affecting rational drug use, especially in elderly individuals, and to prevent possible health problems.