The effect of health-related information seeking and financial strain on medication nonadherence among patients with diabetes and/or hypertension in central Texas

Abstract

Objective: To assess self-reported financial strain and persistence in asking treatment- and medication-related questions in relation to medication nonadherence. Method: Data were analysed from a cross-sectional study of adults with diabetes, hypertension or both in central Texas in 2013. Measures of medication nonadherence in the past 12 months, financial strain and patients' persistence in asking treatment- and medication-related questions were identified. Medication nonadherence resulting from cost, transportation or work was compared with medication nonadherence resulting from other reasons. Binary and multinomial regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with medication nonadherence among the respondents. Key findings: In the bivariate model, medication nonadherence from any cause was significantly associated with financial strain, not asking questions about treatments or medications, and all demographic characteristics. However, in the multinomial model, medication nonadherence resulting from cost, work or transportation was only associated with not asking medication-related question about financial strain, lack of health insurance, age and gender. This was true for nonadherence resulting from other reasons except that ethnicity was significant while gender was not. Conclusions: While removing financial strain could aid medication adherence, clinicians should also encourage patients to be persistent in asking questions about their medications until they understand the purpose for taking them. Our findings have implications for empowering patients to be more proactive in enhancing their adherence to medications.