Table 3.
Pharmacy personnel's knowledge on psychotropic medication used in elderly people, Gondar, Ethiopia, April 2020, N = 144.
| Statement | Response | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True | False | I do not know | ||
| Statement related to dosage | ||||
| 1 | Due to changed metabolism and a higher sensitivity, older persons need a lower dose of antipsychotics or benzodiazepines in order to get the same effect. | 102 (70.8) | 23 (16) | 19 (13.2) |
| 2 | The recommended daily dosage of olanzapine is 50 to 100 mg in older people with severe behavioral disorders in dementia. | 83 (57.6) | 49 (34) | 12 (8.3) |
| 3 | The recommended daily dose of risperidone is 0.5 to 2 mg in older people with severe behavioral disorders in dementia. | 55 (38.2) | 30 (20.8) | 59 (41) |
| 4 | Ageing is associated with physiological changes in the sleeping pattern. To reverse these changes in the sleep pattern, hypnosedative medications may be used in low dose during a short period. | 35 (24.3) | 41 (28.5) | 68 (47.2) |
| Statements related to selection of appropriate medications | ||||
| 5 | With the exception of delirium tremens, antipsychotics are preferred above benzodiazepines for sedating older patients with severe agitation or delirium. | 66 (45.8) | 34 (23.6) | 44 (30.6) |
| 6 | Antipsychotic medications can have a place in the treatment of delirium. | 60 (41.7) | 24 (16.7) | 60 (41.7) |
| 7 | Antipsychotic medications reduce such symptoms as delusions and hallucinations. | 58 (40.3) | 23 (16) | 63 (43.8) |
| 8 | In the care of older adults with dementia, antipsychotic medications are preferred over behavior-oriented therapy. | 50 (34.7) | 24 (16.7) | 70 (48.6) |
| 9 | Only in severe cases of sleeplessness and failure of alternative therapies with proven effectiveness, hypnosedatives can be administrated for a short period of time in the old. | 54 (37.5) | 22 (15.3) | 68 (47.2) |
| 10 | The effects of diazepam, a benzodiazepine, can last for a long time, making it not proper to use in this age category. | 51 (35.4) | 54 (37.5) | 39 (27.1) |
| 11 | Next to nonpharmacological therapies, hypnosedatives are to be used for treatment and minimization of the symptoms of anxiety disorders. | 55 (38.2) | 43 (29.9) | 46 (31.9) |
| Statement related to side effect | ||||
| 12 | Use of hypnosedatives can lead to physical and emotional dependency. | 73 (50.7) | 10 (6.9) | 61 (42.4) |
| 13 | Long-term (3 months or above) intake of antipsychotic medications increases the risk for cerebrovascular accidents | 56 (38.9) | 22 (15.3) | 66 (45.8) |
| 14 | Antipsychotic medications can cause side effects in the old such as disorientation, urine retention, dry mouth, and blurred vision. | 62 (43.1) | 19 (13.2) | 63 (43.8) |
| 15 | Long-term intake (3 months or above) of atypical antipsychotic medications can lead to an increase in weight. | 59 (41) | 30 (20.8) | 55 (38.2) |
| 16 | Patients starting on antipsychotic medication are susceptible to postural hypotension. | 47 (32.6) | 36 (25) | 61 (42.4) |
| 17 | One of the side effects of haloperidol is akathisia, which manifests with constant pacing and restlessness. | 60 (41.7) | 19 (13.2) | 65 (45.1) |
| 18 | There is a connection between long-term (3 months or above) intake of antipsychotic medications and the prevalence of falls in the old. | 59 (41) | 22 (15.3) | 63 (43.8) |
| 19 | Benzodiazepines can lead to side effects in the old like confusion, memory, and concentration disorders. | 72 (50) | 16 (11.1) | 56 (38.9) |
Values are represented as numbers (%), and correct answers are in boldface.