Mohsen Bazargan|James Smith|Hamed Yazdanshenas|Masoud Movassaghi|David Martins|Gail Orum
Non-adherence to medication regimens among older African-American adults
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science|Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science|Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science|University of California, Los Angeles|Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science|Keck Graduate Institute
despite concerns racial differences adherence prescribed medication rigimens among older adults current information nonadherence among underserved elderly african americans comorbidities limited study examines association adherence drug regimens array medicationrelated factors including polypharmacy medication regimen complexity use potentially inappropriate medications pim knowledge therapeutic purpose instructions medication usefourhundred african americans aged 65 years older recruited south los angeles structured facetoface interviews visual inspection participants medications conducted medication container labels information including strength drug expiration date instructions special warnings recorded medication regimen complexity index mrci measured quantify multiple features drug regimen complexity beers criteria used measure pim useparticipants reported taking average 57 prescription drugs 56 could identify purpose least one medications twothirds knew dosage regimen medications thirtyfive percent participants indicated purposely skipped taking least one medications within last three days 8 participants admitted forgot take medications results multivariate analysis showed copayment drugs memory deficits mrci medicationrelated knowledge associated adherence dosage regimen medications participants higher level knowledge therapeutic purpose knowledge dosage regimen medications seven times ci 42108 likely adhere frequency dose medications participants low complexity index two times ci 1139 likely adhere dosage regimen medications compared participants high drug regimen complexity indexwhile studies documented nonadherence remains important issue among older adults study shows underserved elderly african americans issues particularly striking periodic comprehensive assessment medications use remains critical initial step identify medication related issues assessment disease medication related knowledge eg therapeutic purposes sideeffects special instructions etc ability follow complicated medication regimens modification drug regimens requires interprofessional collaboration