Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department
Background: Adherence to medication represents a challenge in managing chronic conditions in the geriatric population. This study assessed adherence rates and factors affecting adherence of geriatric patients attending the Helen Joseph Hospital outpatient department. Methods: This was a prospective...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-10-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6011 |
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| author | Oluremi A. Odubanjo Brent Tipping Lara S. Greenstein |
| author_facet | Oluremi A. Odubanjo Brent Tipping Lara S. Greenstein |
| author_sort | Oluremi A. Odubanjo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Adherence to medication represents a challenge in managing chronic conditions in the geriatric population. This study assessed adherence rates and factors affecting adherence of geriatric patients attending the Helen Joseph Hospital outpatient department.
Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 130 patients aged 65 years and older, with at least two chronic conditions. Participants were administered a survey incorporating the Medication Adherence Rating Scale and the Adherence Barrier Questionnaire to identify medication adherence and patient-specific barriers to adherence, respectively. These instruments are reliable and valid.
Results: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for analysis. Most patients were female (63%) with a mean age of 72 (67–78) years. Common comorbidities included type 2 diabetes mellitus (63%), hypertension (98%), dyslipidaemia (92%) and congestive cardiac failure (38%). Polypharmacy was prevalent, affecting 53% of the participants. Despite 96% of participants being adherent, all had at least one barrier to adherence, with the majority (65%) having more than one barrier. The main barriers were forgetfulness (59%), fear of side effects (39%), problems with taking the medications (26%) and believing medications are poisonous (22%). Although most participants accessed the pharmacy easily, only 83% reported consistent medication availability and 11% could not afford to collect their medication.
Conclusion: Polypharmacy is common in the population. Despite high adherence rates, barriers such as believing medications are poisonous remain significant. A good patient–doctor relationship improves adherence.
Contribution: Understanding the barriers to adherence in older adults with polypharmacy and multimorbidity can assist practitioners improve patient care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1146a98a3ef847f488280adebdd5144b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-1146a98a3ef847f488280adebdd5144b2025-08-20T03:06:51ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042024-10-01661e1e810.4102/safp.v66i1.60114478Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient departmentOluremi A. Odubanjo0Brent Tipping1Lara S. Greenstein2Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Division of Geriatric Medicine, Helen Joseph Hospital, JohannesburgDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Division of Geriatric Medicine, Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, JohannesburgDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Division of Geriatric Medicine, Helen Joseph Hospital, JohannesburgBackground: Adherence to medication represents a challenge in managing chronic conditions in the geriatric population. This study assessed adherence rates and factors affecting adherence of geriatric patients attending the Helen Joseph Hospital outpatient department. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 130 patients aged 65 years and older, with at least two chronic conditions. Participants were administered a survey incorporating the Medication Adherence Rating Scale and the Adherence Barrier Questionnaire to identify medication adherence and patient-specific barriers to adherence, respectively. These instruments are reliable and valid. Results: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for analysis. Most patients were female (63%) with a mean age of 72 (67–78) years. Common comorbidities included type 2 diabetes mellitus (63%), hypertension (98%), dyslipidaemia (92%) and congestive cardiac failure (38%). Polypharmacy was prevalent, affecting 53% of the participants. Despite 96% of participants being adherent, all had at least one barrier to adherence, with the majority (65%) having more than one barrier. The main barriers were forgetfulness (59%), fear of side effects (39%), problems with taking the medications (26%) and believing medications are poisonous (22%). Although most participants accessed the pharmacy easily, only 83% reported consistent medication availability and 11% could not afford to collect their medication. Conclusion: Polypharmacy is common in the population. Despite high adherence rates, barriers such as believing medications are poisonous remain significant. A good patient–doctor relationship improves adherence. Contribution: Understanding the barriers to adherence in older adults with polypharmacy and multimorbidity can assist practitioners improve patient care.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6011geriatric populationadherencepolypharmacymedicationbarrierschallenges |
| spellingShingle | Oluremi A. Odubanjo Brent Tipping Lara S. Greenstein Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department South African Family Practice geriatric population adherence polypharmacy medication barriers challenges |
| title | Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| title_full | Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| title_fullStr | Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| title_short | Medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| title_sort | medication adherence in geriatric patients attending medical outpatient department |
| topic | geriatric population adherence polypharmacy medication barriers challenges |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/6011 |
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