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Table 2 Health events, service access, and medication use (N = 21; *N = 20)

From: Health transitions in recently widowed older women: a mixed methods study

 

Time 1

Time 2

Time 3*

# who reported health events

10 (48%)

8 (38%)

9 (45%)

# of events

18

9

20

Falls

1

1

3

Medication-related

1

0

1

Exacerbation/new illness

14

5

9

Surgery

3

2

7

Emergency Department presentation

4

3

3

Hospital admission

6

1

5

Planned hospital admission

4

5

5

Unplanned hospital admission

4

2

5

Health professional/service access

Mean # times accessed (SD)

Accessed GP

3.33 (2.55)

3.57 (4.03)

2.84 (2.01)

Accessed Practice Nurse

0.24 (0.89)

0.38 (0.81)

0.63 (1.54)

Accessed Pharmacist

3.00 (4.44)

2.57 (3.80)

2.00 (2.65)

Accessed Physio

0.38 (1.36)

0.57 (1.47)

0.42 (1.31)

Accessed Massage

0.10 (0.30)

0.29 (1.10)

0.05 (0.23)

Accessed Chiropractor

1.57 (5.51)

0.95 (2.42)

1.05 (2.53)

Accessed Naturopath

0.00 (0.00)

0.29 (1.10)

0.00 (0.00)

Accessed Psychologist/Psychiatrist

0.62 (1.53)

1.00 (2.85)

0.68 (1.89)

Accessed Support Group

1.10 (3.49)

1.29 (4.10)

1.26 (3.78)

Accessed Bereavement

0.05 (0.22)

0.05 (0.22)

0.32 (1.38)

Accessed Outpatient Clinic

0.05 (0.22)

0.10 (0.44)

0.16 (0.38)

Accessed Home Care

0.05 (0.22)

0.02 (0.11)

0.37 (1.38)

Accessed Meals on Wheels

0.00 (0.00)

0.00 (0.00)

0.05 (0.23)

Accessed Nursing

0.05 (0.22)

0.05 (0.22)

0.11 (0.46)

Medication Use

 

% Participants (N)

 

Hypertension

63.2 (12)

71.4 (15)

60 (12)

Blood Thinner

21.1 (4)

38.1 (8)

30 (6)

Cholesterol

36.8 (7)

38.1 (8)

30 (6)

Diabetes

15.8 (3)

28.6 (6)

20 (4)

Anti-uricemic

0 (0)

4.8 (1)

5 (1)

Diuretic

15.8 (3)

14.3 (3)

5 (1)

Analgesic

21.1 (4)

9.5 (2)

15 (3)

Anti-inflammatory

21.1 (4)

4.8 (1)

5 (1)

Osteo

10.5 (2)

14.3 (3)

5 (1)

Hormone/Steroid

10 (2)

14.3 (3)

15 (3)

Antidepressant

21.1 (4)

23.8 (5)

15 (3)

Insomnia

21.1 (4)

4.8 (1)

5 (1)

Gastrointestinal

31.6 (6)

33.3 (7)

35 (7)

Penicillin

5.3 (1)

9.5 (2)

0 (0)

Antibiotic

9.5 (2)

9.5 (2)

5 (1)

Respiratory

15.8 (3)

19 (4)

10 (2)

Allergy

5.3 (1)

4.8 (1)

10 (2)

Vitamin supplement

57.9 (11)

52.4 (11)

45 (9)

Herbal

28.6 (6)

42.9 (9)

20 (4)