Factors associated with medication adherence among the elderly with multimorbidity

Background
Medication adherence is a key healthcare issue in the elderly and a challenging factor influencing the success of treatment.

Objectives
The study aimed to determine the factors associated with medication adherence in the elderly with multimorbidity.

Material and methods
The study was descriptive-analytical and examined 800 elderly people using a multi-stage random sampling method in Sabzevar County in 2021. The research collected data using a demographic form, a standard questionnaire on medication adherence in chronic diseases, and standard questionnaires on patient satisfaction with physician communication, which were completed via interviews and self-report. In the present study, the elderly were classified into three groups based on having chronic diseases: people with a chronic disease, people with two chronic diseases, and people with three and more chronic diseases. SPSS24 was used for data analysis. Chi-square and Multiple linear regression tests were used to analyze data.

Results
The research results indicated that 426 individuals (53%) had two diseases, and 199 individuals (25%) had three or more diseases. Diabetes was of the highest frequency (25%). The mean score of medication adherence of the elderly was 105.5 (± 49.04), and the mean score of the elderlies’ satisfaction with the physicians’ communication was 66.48 (± 11). In the elderly with three or more diseases, there was a one-unit increase in satisfaction with the physicians’ communication, and medication adherence rate increased by 0.04 units.

Conclusions
It is suggested to implement new and innovative intervention strategies to improve health literacy, medication adherence, and adherence monitoring methods to better manage diseases in the elderly with multi-morbidity.