Evaluation of medication and herbal product usage habits in the geriatric population: A pilot study from Trabzon Province, Turkiye

Objectives: Polypharmacy and the uncontrolled use of herbal products increase drug interactions and adverse drug reactions, leading to possible risks for the geriatric population. This study aimed to investigate the medications and herbal products used by geriatric individuals who presented to a family health center in Trabzon province, Türkiye, as well as their related habits and knowledge and information sources. Methods: The study was conducted through face-to-face interviews with geriatric patients who presented to the Yomra Family Health Center in Trabzon between February and May 2019. The questionnaire forms obtained from a total of 236 individuals with appropriate data quality were included in the study. Results: Of the participants, 137 (58.1%) were primary school graduates, whose mean age was 69.23 ± 4.81 years. It was found that 212 (89.9%) of the participants used medications regularly, and 143 (60.5%) of the regular medication users did not remember the name or purpose of at least one medication. The participants used a total of 646 medications, of which 63 (9.7%) were kept under unsuitable storage conditions. It was also determined that 76 (32.2%) of the participants used herbal products, with the most commonly used herbal products being linden and lemon-and-mint tea. Conclusion: Pharmacists can improve the treatment adherence and outcomes of geriatric patients by monitoring their treatment regimens in terms of dose, duration, and drug interactions, while also providing counseling on medications and herbal products, including necessary warnings and instructions. Furthermore, healthcare professionals must be fully aware of the potential health complications arising from the combined intake of herbs and drugs to ensure optimal patient care.