An evaluation of elderly people's understanding of pharmacotherapy among those treated in the Primary Healthcare System in Belo Horizonte, Brazil/ Avaliacao da compreensao da farmacoterapia entre idosos atendidos na Atencao Primaria a Saude de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil

There are a greater number of elderly people with diseases which has led to a greater use in medication and complexity in pharmacotherapy. The aim of this study was to understand the level of understanding on pharmacotherapy amongst the elderly and associated factors. An analytical transversal study was carried out in the Primary Health Care Units. Sociodemographic, clinical, and functional characteristics relative to the use of medication were explored. The level of understanding was obtained after a concordance analysis had been done based on the responses from the interviewees and the information on the medical prescriptions such as: name of medication, dosage, frequency, indication, precautions and side effects. The global level of understanding was classified as insufficient in cases where the discordance was [greater than or equal to] 30%. Of the 227 elderly people interviewed, 51.1% showed an insufficient understanding in relation to their medication. We carried out multivariate logistic regression to observe the factors associated with an understanding of pharmacotherapy. We noted that those with a low level of education and a dependency on the use of medication showed insufficient understanding. (p < 0,05). It is necessary to implement strategies to increase the quality of the guidance given to the elderly and to ensure compliance. Key words Comprehension, Patient medication knowledge, Drug therapy, Aged, Primary Health Care Os idosos apresentam maior numero de doencas, levando a maior uso de medicamentos e a farmacoterapia mais complexa. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o nivel de compreensao da farmacoterapia entre idosos e fatores associados. Realizou-se estudo transversal analitico em Unidades Basicas de Saude. Foram investigadas as caracteristicas sociodemograficas, clinicas, funcionais e relativas ao uso de medicamentos. O nivel de compreensao foi obtido apos a analise de concordancia entre a resposta do entrevistado e a informacao contida na prescricao para: nome do medicamento, dose, frequencia, indicacao, precaucoes e efeitos adversos. O nivel global de compreensao foi classificado como insuficiente em caso de discordancia [greater than or equal to] 30%. Dos 227 idosos entrevistados, 51,1% apresentaram compreensao insuficiente em relacao aos medicamentos. Realizou-se regressao logistica multivariada para observar os fatores associados a compreensao da farmacoterapia, sendo menor escolaridade e dependencia para uso dos medicamentos os que