"The medication beliefs and practices of elderly residents in Barangay Puting Kahoy, Silang,

Cavite"
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
One of the vital indicators of a nations health is the population of the elderly
people, most commonly known as the Senior Citizens. Due to the increasing rate of chronic
diseases, the need for taking several kinds of medications has been a common practice among
the elderly. There are various beliefs and practices on medicine of the elderly people that
greatly influences their own health.
The Philippine population continues to increase and grow in number as years
pass by. It has been estimated that the total population of the Philippines by 2015 is about
101.6 million, making the country still as one of the top most populous countries in the world
(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2015). Along with the rising population is the increase in the
aging population. It has been estimated that Senior Citizens accounts of the 6.8 percent of the
92.1 million household population in 2010 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2015). The
Southern Luzon region, known as the Region IV of Luzon, with 14.48% has the largest
number of Senior Citizens in the country, 9000 of which, comes from Silang, Cavite.
In relation to health, ageing population increases the demand for health services,
facilities and medications. Older people suffer from both degenerative and communicable
diseases due to the ageing of the bodys immune system. The leading causes of morbidity are
infections, while visual impairment, difficulty in walking, chewing, hearing, osteoporosis,
arthritis and incontinence are other common health-related problems (Ageing Population in
the Philippines, 2014). This implies that the medication practices of elderly people is one of
the vital factors affecting their overall health.
The Filipino people are known to have diverse religions, cultures and beliefs
which in various ways possible, affects the health of the people. Beliefs are vital components
that a health care provider must consider in providing care and treatment to a patient. The

beliefs and attributions that people hold can influence their health by affecting their behavior,
or more directly by affecting a physiological system (Broome, 2013).
Objectives of the study
General Objective: To identify the medication beliefs and practices of elderly people in
Brgy. Putingkahoy, Silang, Cavite within the last year.
1. To determine the number of elderly residents of Brgy. Putingkahoy to prescribed
medications from a licensed physician and from a traditional healer (albularyo), elderly
patients doing self-medication, and combination of 2 or 3 simultaneously within the last
year.
2. To determine the medication beliefs of the elderly residents of Brgy. Putingkahoy
within the last year.
Population:
Elderly residents, ages 60 and above, of Brgy. Putingkahoy, Silang, Cavite.
Methodology
(Fishbowl) Random Sampling, use of Survey Questionnaire with the incorporation of the
Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) Horne, Weinman, Hankins, (1999)
Psychology and Health, 14, 1-24.

Type
Cross-sectional descriptive
Concept Map

Bibliography
Ageing Population in the Philippines. (2014, March). Retrieved from HelpAge
International: http://ageingasia.org/ageing-population-philippines1/
Broome, A. (2013). Health Psychology: Processes and Applications. Springer.

Philippine Statistics Authority. (2015). Retrieved from Republic of the Philippines

National Statistical Coordination Board: www.nscb.com.ph