The Medicine, Health, and Aging Project
Development of a Screener for Medication Literacy Problems Among the Elderly in PACE/PACENET
Funding
Sponsored Research Agreement between First Health Services Corporation, Harrisburg, PA, and Penn State.
Period
May 2007 - December 2008
Principle Investigator
Frank M.Ahern, Ph.D.
Co-Investigators
Debra Heller, Ph.D.
Associates
Aimee Read, B.S., Project Manager
Background
Health literacy is an important component of a wide range of health-related activities. Each year, billions of dollars are expended due to adverse consequences attributable to health literacy problems, especially medication literacy. Currently there are no valid, standardized screening instruments that will allow a patient, caregiver, or health professional to quickly assess problems with medication literacy.
Objectives
The specific aim and method of this research is to develop a short, valid, user-friendly Medication Literacy Problem Screener to be used by PACE/PACENET to identify elderly who are at risk for medication-related adverse events.