Subjective Factors of Polymedication in the Elderly: a Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Patients, Relatives and Referent Physicians.(DOSAGE)

Subjective Factors of Polymedication in the Elderly: a Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Patients, Relatives and Referent Physicians.(DOSAGE)

The DOSAGE Study is a qualitative transversal study aiming to describe and understand the subjective factors of polymedication in the elderly population (75 years old and more), defined as 10 simultaneous drugs. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with patients, relatives and general practitioners in one French region. 20 situations will be included. After analysing the data of the individual interviews, focus groups will be conducted with health professionals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• For patients:

  • Men and women aged 75 and over
  • Beneficiary of a prescription of medicinal products fulfilling the conditions of major polymedication: to include 10 different drugs whatever the way of use (per os, subcutaneous, intravenous, intra muscular, cutaneous, instillation)
  • Informed consent stating that the subject understood the purpose and methodology of the study and agrees to participate in the study.

• For the relatives:

  • Men and women 18 years of age or older
  • Informed consent
  • Regularly participating in helping the patient's daily life

• For Physicians :

  • Identified as the patient's physician or family physician.
  • Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons with proven and significant cognitive impairment preventing the completion of semi-strutured interviews
• Person who does not speak French easily
• Generally, any person unlikely to cooperate in the study
• Adults under guardianship
• Refusal of relatives and/or general practitioner to participate to the study