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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1441904

Generation Rx: Evaluation of Medication Misuse Prevention Education for Older Adults

Provisionally accepted
Ruth E. Emptage Ruth E. Emptage *Brittany S. Lovatt Brittany S. Lovatt Cynthia D. Sloan Cynthia D. Sloan Junan Li Junan Li Molly N. Downing Molly N. Downing Katherine E. Summers Katherine E. Summers
  • The Ohio State University, Columbus, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Abstract Objective(s): Increased medication misuse over the last two decades has prompted extensive discussion about the lack of evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention education programs targeting the topic. As older adults are high utilizers of medications, this is an important population to reach with such educational programming. This study was designed to assess the change in knowledge and behavioral intentions of older adult participants after attending an educational session focused on safe medication use utilizing the Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit (GROAT) resources. Methods: The Generation Rx team at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy (OSU COP) partnered with The Ohio State University Extension offices (OSU Extension) across the state of Ohio to provide GROAT educational programming in their communities. OSU Extension Educators were trained via the standardized virtual training program, Generation Rx Ambassadors. Program participants were surveyed immediately before and after the educational events. Pre- and post-survey data was then analyzed to assess knowledge gain and behavioral intentions about safe medication practices, as well as program perception and program satisfaction. Results: Programming occurred between May 2022 and September 2022. In total, OSU Extension Educators collectively engaged 843 individuals in a prevention education program utilizing the GROAT materials. After excluding participants under 50 years of age, there were 297 pre surveys and 245 post surveys included in the data analysis. Knowledge gains from pre- to post- survey showed a significant increase in correct responses in seven of the eight questions asked regarding safe medication practices. All five questions evaluating behavioral intentions demonstrated positive results after the programming (P<0.001). Participants' perceptions and program satisfaction were also favorable. Conclusion: This study found through pre- and post-survey results that the Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit programming delivered by Generation Rx trained OSU Extension Educators significantly increased older adult participants’ knowledge and favorably impacted behavioral intentions around safe medication use practices.

    Keywords: drug misuse, medication safety, prevention education, Evaluation, Older adult

    Received: 31 May 2024; Accepted: 29 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Emptage, Lovatt, Sloan, Li, Downing and Summers. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Ruth E. Emptage, The Ohio State University, Columbus, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.