Awareness and Use of Personal Medication Records among 50+ Americans

A personal medication record (PMR) is a form for recording all of the medications a person currently takes including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements, and vitamins. These forms were developed to assist people with managing their medications wisely. This AARP study examines the awareness and current use of personal medication records among age 50+ Americans, and how likely people are to use them.

Of those surveyed...

• 27 percent say they have heard of a personal medication record
  
• 60 percent of those who have heard of a PMR say they have one
  
• 46 percent say they always or sometimes carry their completed PMR with them.
  
• 41 percent say they would be likely to complete a PMR if one were available to them free of charge
  
• 46 percent say they are likely to carry a PMR with them, if one is provided to them
  
• 34 percent are interested in receiving a free PMR

 

These findings suggest that there is an opportunity to educate midlife and older people about what a PMR is and subsequently increase the use of personal medication records.

Telephone interviews were conducted from October 26th through November 1st, 2005, among a nationally representative sample of 1,023 age 50+ individuals by ICR/International Communications Research of Media, PA. Further information about the study may be obtained by contacting its author, Laura Skufca of AARP Knowledge Management, at 202-434-6285. (15 pages)