Cochrane · systematic review · CD012419
Interventions for improving medication‐taking ability and adherence in older adults prescribed multiple medications
Cross, AJ, Elliott, RA, Petrie, K, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Cochrane Library
Consumers and CommunicationAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
18
current version
GRADE rated
14
No studies
4
Included studies
NR
No studies 4 · 22.2%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 5 · 27.8%Low 7 · 38.9%Moderate 2 · 11.1%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Summary of findings: mixed interventions
Population: older patients using at least 4 regular prescription medications (and/or their carers)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Medication‐taking ability | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Medication adherence (dichotomous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Medication adherence (continuous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, inconsistency |
Health‐related quality of life | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Emergency department (ED)/Hospital admissions | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Mortality | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Summary of findings: educational interventions alone
Population: older patients using at least 4 regular prescription medications (and/or their carers)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Medication‐taking ability | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Medication adherence (dichotomous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Medication adherence (continuous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Health‐related quality of life | no estimate extracted | NR | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
ED/Hospital admissions | no estimate extracted | NR | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias |
Mortality | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Summary of findings: behavioural interventions alone
Population: older patients using at least 4 regular prescription medications (and/or their carers)
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Medication‐taking ability | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Medication adherence (dichotomous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Medication adherence (continuous) | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Health‐related quality of life | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
ED/Hospital admissions | no estimate extracted | NR | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Mortality | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |