A STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND ITS FACTORS AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS IN OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

The Study entitled "A Study on Assessment of Medication Adherence and its Factors among Elderly Patients in Out-Patient Department in Tertiary Care Hospitals" was designed to assess self-reported medication adherence and its factors in elderly patients. Medication adherence was tested by using validated eight-item self-report Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). An observational study of 6 months was carried out in out-patient department of tertiary care hospitals. Participants older than 45 years of age were interviewed while waiting for medical checkup. A total of 158 participants, of which 77 males and 81 females were interviewed. In that 114(72.15%) are low adherent to medications. Statistically, multivariate logistic regression shows that the patients who are living in village, low income, illiterate, poly pharmacy, forgetfulness and adverse effects had lower levels of medication adherence. This analysis shows very low adherence levels in the interviewed population. Poor adherence to medications was very common. The findings of this study are used to identify the subset of population at risk of poor adherence who should be targeted for interventions to achieve medication adherence and hence prevent complications.