The Potential for Tele-Presence to Assist and Aid with the Supervision of Medication Self-Management
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Medication self-management is a complex and challenging issue.There have been many different methods and mechanisms created to assist individuals who manage their own medications.Pill boxes, new icons for medication labels, automated pill dispensers, and even phone calls reminding patients to take their prescriptions have all fallen short in the quest to help people appropriately self-medicate.This study looks at how the addition of tele-presence to a dynamic automated medication dispensing device can benefit individuals, and help them to better administer their medications.Through the tele-presence, patients can easily be connected to a variety of caregivers, including family members and the patients' doctors.The main goals for this device are to allow patients to remain independent longer, to enhance understanding of the medications the patient is taking, to keep caregivers informed of the patient's current status, to allow improved continuity of care, to better respond to the dynamic nature of health, to improve quality of life, and to provide peace of mind for not only the patients but also for their caregivers.iii Dedication This paper is dedicated to everyone who helped me through my erratic but purposeful journey through higher education, especially my family and friends.I would especially like to thank Kyle Van Volkinburg for all of his support and encouragement throughout this process.members or caregivers are able to both assess and assist the patient while the patient remains in his or her own home.The author has chosen not to say "non-adherence" or "non-compliance" in this paper when she is referring to patients on a medical regimen, unless it is the terminology used in a referenced source.Generally, these are widely used terms and they appear in most of the literature on this topic.Yet using either of those phrases infers that the patient is resistant, or simply unwilling, to follow the prescribed medication schedule.This is not the case.There are many reasons why a patient may not exactly follow a medication regimen.Patients should be appreciated for their efforts, and aided with any shortcomings.
Author: Olivia K. Hernandez
Institution: The Ohio State University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2601373917