Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33238894›Full record

ArticleBMC geriatrics2020

Age and education as factors associated with medication literacy: a community pharmacy perspective.

Javier Plaza-Zamora, Isabel Legaz, Eduardo Osuna, María D Pérez-Cárceles

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC geriatrics, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 37 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
37citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

37 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Medication literacy scale for patients with chronic constipation.Exploratory research in clinical and social pharmacy · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Javier Plaza-ZamoraCommunity Pharmacy, Health Service of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Isabel LegazDepartment of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Research into Aging. Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. isalegaz@um.es.ORCID 0000-0002-1140-4313
Eduardo OsunaDepartment of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Research into Aging. Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
María D Pérez-CárcelesDepartment of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Research into Aging. Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAging implies a higher prevalence of chronic pathologies and a corresponding increase in medication. The correct adherence and use of the medication are prerequisites for reducing risks of disease progression, comorbidity, and mortality. Medication literacy (ML) is the specific ability to safely access and understand the information available concerning medication, and to act accordingly. Currently, there are few specific instruments that ascertain the extent of ML in the general population. The aim of this work was to analyse ML in a large cohort of pharmacy customers.

methodsA total of 400 community pharmacy clients were analyzed to assess the level of ML (documental and numeracy) through the validated MedLitRxSE tool.

resultsThe results showed that out of a total of 400 community pharmacy clients only 136 (34%) had an adequate degree of ML, while the rest of the clients (n = 264; 66%) were adjudged not to have this ability. Statistically significant differences were found between the different age groups in terms of ML (P < 0.001; OR = 0.312; 95% CI: 0.195-0.499), the 51-65 and >65-year age groups having a lower frequency of adequate ML (23.5 and 7.1%, respectively) than the rest of the age groups. A statistically significant increase in adequate ML was observed as the academic level of the clients increased (P < 0.001; OR = 15.403; 95% CI: 8.109-29.257). Multivariate logistic regression confirmed the influence of both variables on ML.

conclusionsAn inadequate ML level was found in community pharmacy clients over the age of 51, and also in those with primary or non-formal studies. Our data add to our knowledge about ML, and should pharmacists and other health professionals to adopt new strategies to prevent, or at least reduce, errors in taking medicines, thus avoiding the undesirable effects of any misuse.

Indexed as

Pharmaceutical ServicesPharmaciesAdultAgedEducational StatusFemaleHumansLiteracyMaleMedication AdherenceMiddle AgedPharmacistsAgingCommunity pharmacyEducationLegal medicinePatient safety

Identifiers

PMID33238894
PMCPMC7687724

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.