• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2018

Purpose: This quasi-experimental study was done to develop image-use medication education for older inpatients and to evaluate the effects on their knowledge, self-efficacy, and misuse of medication. Methods: Fifty nine elders (experimental group - 30, and control group - 29) received medication education once a week for 3 weeks. Data were collected before (pretest), right after (post 1), and 4 weeks after the program finished (post 2). Drug Use Knowledge Scale, Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale, and Drug Misuse Scale were used. Analysis included descriptive statistics, $x^2$ test, repeated measured ANOVA. Results: Findings showed significant differences in knowledge of medication and drug misuse between groups according to time(pretest, post 1, and post 2). At post 1 and post 2, knowledge and self-efficacy levels were significantly higher and misuse scores were lower in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: Findings indicate that elder-tailored medication education consisting of group education and individual guidance with images is effective and practical for medicine safety in elderly inpatients. Moreover, it could lead to a healthier life for elders, even elders with multiple chronic diseases and taking several medications.