Medication knowledge and communication patterns among older adult patients: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives To evaluate older adult patients' communication habits, information sources, and medication knowledge at four major hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among patients aged 65 years and older in Shaafi Hospital, Somali Sudanese Hospital, Martini Hospital, and Aden Adde Hospital. Data were collected through structured questionnaire focusing on patients’ understanding of their medications, the sources they rely on for medication-related information, and their communication experiences with healthcare professionals.The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to show the findings and investigate connections between patient characteristics and medication knowledge levels. Results Among 200 elderly participants (mean age: 70.2 ± 6.8 years; 59% male), 55% of them were taking ≥ 3 medications, with antibiotics (63%) and antihypertensives (60.5%) most commonly used. Only 20% demonstrated "good" medication knowledge, while 60.5% were unable to name their medications and 75% were unaware of side effects. Furthermore, healthcare provider communication was suboptimal: 51% received medication education, primarily from doctors (32.5%), while only 1.5% received education from pharmacists . Conclusions In summary, this study pinpointed a critical shortage in medication knowledge among older adults in Mogadishu, worsened by poor healthcare communication and an insignificant role for pharmacists. These findings emphasize a pressing need for structured patient education programs and a reinforced multidisciplinary approach to care. Enhancing medication knowledge is crucial for improving patient safety in this vulnerable population.