The MATINEE Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Managing Multiple Medications in Older Life – a Longitudinal Qualitative Study of the experiences and perspectives of older adults living with frailty.
IRAS ID
336220
Contact name
Anna Seeley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
By 2032, 23% of people in the UK will be aged over 65. Older adults are more likely to live with long-term health conditions and take multiple daily medications. The consequences of taking multiple daily medications can include increased risks of side effects and hospital admission. These risks are higher for older adults living with frailty. Taking multiple medications may also require time, effort, and organization, which can be more difficult to manage when living with frailty.
Although medications may be doing ‘more harm than good’, stopping them can be a complex decision, taking into account the risks and benefits for each individual. Previous research has suggested that many older adults, even those living with severe frailty, are content taking their medications. However, they may be willing to stop medications on a doctor’s recommendation. On the other hand, some older people feel uneasy about taking multiple medications and the side effects they may encounter.
We want to understand more about why there are differences in opinions around medications in older adults living with frailty. In particular, we want to understand how people’s experiences of acute illness and perceptions about their own general health may influence their views about their medications. We also want to understand how older people living with frailty experience interactions with healthcare professionals about their care and their medications.We will recruit 8-10 older people who are living in the community with frailty and taking 5 or more medications. We will interview them several times over a year, including at home, to understand their different experiences, and if their attitudes towards their medications change over this period. We will also speak to those who assist them with their medications. This information will help us understand how medications should be reviewed in primary care, and what older people living with frailty and their carers value most during these consultations.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0149
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion