Medication Saving Behaviors of Older Adults: Scale Developed to Assess Family Caregiver Perspectives

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study developed and explored the preliminary reliability and validity of a 6-item Medication Saving Behaviors (MSB) scale when completed by family care partners of older adults.

Methods: Women (N = 119) helping an aging relative with healthcare appointments and medication management completed an online survey including items related to generalized hoarding and medication saving behaviors.

Results: The MSB was psychometrically sound and correlated significantly with hoarding scales and reported number of expired and leftover medications. Compared with those reporting low levels of general hoarding concerns, group means on the MSB were higher for caregivers reporting clinically significant levels of hoarding by their elderly family member. The MSB was unrelated to total prescription or over-the-counter medications for the older adult, lending support for the discriminant validity of the scale.

Conclusions: This study provides initial support for the convergent and discriminant validity of the MSB when administered to intergenerational care partners of older adults.

Clinical Implications: The MSB may function to identify higher risk patients via their family members and target families for interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Ageing/aged
• assessment
• family caregiving
• geriatrics
• hoarding
• medication management