Determinants of Medication Adherence Among Iranian Elderly Patients with Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Background: One of the most important problems of the elderly with chronic diseases is lack of medication adherence that imposes huge costs on every country health care system. Objectives: The aim of present study was to examine effective determinants on medication adherence in elderly patients with chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Qom, Iran, in 2016. A total of 100 patients aged 60 and older were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection tools were three questionnaires such as Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8), brief illness perception questionnaire (B-IPQ), hospital anxiety, and depression scale (HADS). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for statistical assessment. Results: The mean and standard deviation age of the patients was 65.4 ± 5.2. More than two-thirds of the patients (71.4%) had poor medication adherence. In addition, among the variables entered into the multiple logistic regression model with P < 0.15 only Identify had a positive significant relationship with medication adherence (OR = 1.52, P = 0.010). Conclusions: Medication adherence in elderly patients with chronic diseases was poor and illness perceptions were effective in medication adherence in elderly with chronic diseases.