Hydrate before you medicate: Implementation of sick day guidance in primary care

Le résumé fourni par la source

Preventing dehydration in vulnerable older adults As climate change leads to more frequent heatwaves, the risk of dehydration is increasing, particularly among older adults and especially those with reduced kidney function. Dehydration can also occur during illnesses such as fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. In these situations, the health of vulnerable older adults can deteriorate rapidly, and some medications that are normally safe may temporarily become harmful. Sick day guidance aims to reduce these risks by advising patients to temporarily stop or adjust certain medications during periods when dehydration is likely. This PhD research investigated how sick day guidance is applied in everyday healthcare and what is needed to improve its implementation. The findings show that many patients and informal caregivers are unaware of the risks associated with medication use during dehydration. Patients often do not adjust their medication during illness or heatwaves and do not always contact a healthcare professional when they develop symptoms of dehydration. Although general practitioners and pharmacists recognise the importance of sick day guidance, providing this information when prescribing or dispensing medication is not yet a routine part of everyday care. An important conclusion is that providing information to patients alone is not enough. Clear agreements between general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and other healthcare professionals are needed to ensure that patients receive appropriate support when they are at risk of dehydration. Informal caregivers can also play an important role by recognising and reporting early signs of dehydration. This research shows that better collaboration between healthcare professionals, patients and informal caregivers is essential to prevent health problems caused by dehydration. Such collaboration can help vulnerable older adults use their medications more safely during illness or periods of extreme heat.

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