背景：在嘉義縣某一區域教學醫院，其老化指數在2009 年已上升至105%以上，在台灣排名第一。
目的：評估嘉義某一區域教學醫院老年病人自我用藥療程之知識及藥師教育後之效益。
方法：2010 年2 月至4 月每週一至週五早上8:30-12:30 隨機抽取門診老年病人，由一位專屬受過訓練的藥師應用開放式口語詢問病人對所服用藥品內之藥袋資訊了解程度。本研究主要納入之條件為65 歲以上且非慢性連續處方箋之病人，排除的條件經醫師診斷有輕度-重度失智症之老人。在用藥指導前後，為確認病人對於藥物使用方法之了解之程度，再請病人自行敘述每個藥品之使用方法，藥師在聽完其表達內容後再評估病人MedTake 之分數。採用配對樣本檢定比較藥師用藥指導前後病人MedTake 之分數。
結果：總共收錄503 位的老年病人，其平均年齡為74.9±5.7 歲，性別以女性居多占61%，平均處方用藥筆數為3.4±1.7 筆。在藥師用藥指導過程結束後病人之評量分數從5.5 提升至
99.7。（p < 0.0001）
結論：藥師提升老年病人對用藥認知並應用開放式問話技巧主動提供用藥指導，可以利用MedTak 之評量工具來判斷老年人服藥順從性的問題。
 

Background:In Chia-Yi county, the aging index is above 105% in 2009, ranked number 1 in Taiwan.
Objective:To assess the knowledge base of elderly patients regarding their medication regimens and the effectiveness of pharmacist consultation at a teaching hospital in Chiayi county.
Methods:From February to April, 2010, on weekday morning (8:30-12:30) a well-trained pharmacist used open-end question to counsel his/her patient in the teaching hospital. Inclusion criteria were over 65 year old outpatients without chronic illness prescription refill slip. Using bar-code system automatically brings out prescription drugs. Before education, pharmacist used the assessment tool (MedTake) to evaluate the degree of patient understanding. MedTake test evaluated dosage, indication, food or water co-administration, and frequency. A composite MedTake test score (0-100%) summarized a subject's overall ability to take their drugs safely. The pharmacist counseled and wrote instructions on need to take all medication. Comparison of assessment MedTake scores before and after medication education.
Results:The average age of 503 outpatients were 74.9 ± 5.7 years old. The average prescribed medication numbers were 3.4 ± 1.7. Before education, the average Medtake score of elderly outpatient was 5.5 ± 16.5. After the pharmacist counseled, the scores of elderly outpatient for drug cognitive ability were significantly improved from 5.5 to 99.7 (paired t test; p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:Pharmacists to enhance awareness of drug use in elderly patients should make using open-end questioning and active education for elderly patients to find the medication adherence problem.