Hilary J. Mosher|Brian C. Lund|Sunil Kripalani|Peter J. Kaboli
Association of Health Literacy With Medication Knowledge, Adherence, and Adverse Drug Events Among Elderly Veterans
University of Iowa|Iowa City VA Medical Center|Vanderbilt University|Iowa City VA Medical Center
health literacy important priority health care delivery effect clinical outcomes remains incompletely elucidated observational cohort study examined association health literacy medication knowledge adherence adverse drug events among cognitively intact veterans older 65 years old taking 5 medications enrolled veterans administration primary care clinic health literacy determined rapid estimate adult literacy medicine medication knowledge adherence assessed clinical pharmacist interview refill data adverse drug events determined interview chart review 3 12 months 310 subjects mean age 74 years 99 white 97 male percentage medications known 29 low health literacy group versus 49 marginal 56 adequate p 001 known medication purposes lower lower health literacy group 49 vs 71 vs 74 p 001 health literacy associated medication adherence low health literacy group took 84 medications label instructions compared 80 marginal 77 adequate p 14 adverse drug events 1 year 48 vs 33 vs 40 p 30 patients lower health literacy poorer medication knowledge lower adherence increased adverse drug events