Rational use of medicines in the older adult: the role of trust in the health care system

More than 50% of drugs used by people worldwide are used inappropriately. This rate increases even more in older adults due to reasons such as memory loss, forgetfulness, and polypharmacy. The population of older adults is increasing worldwide, and therefore, rational drug use in older individuals is becoming even more important. This study aims to determine the effects of demographic characteristics and trust in the health care system on the rational use of medicines among older adults. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected from older adult participants using structured questionnaires. Data were collected using a convenience sampling method from 443 elderly individuals who presented to public hospitals and private pharmacies in Türkiye. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the predictive power of these variables on the rational use of medicines. Trust in the health care system was found to be a significant positive predictor of rational use of medicines (R² = 0.167, p < 0.001). Findings suggest the need for targeted interventions that take into account sociodemographic and psychological factors to support the safe use of medications in aging societies. Increasing trust in the health care system also strengthens individuals’ trust in rational drug use. This result shows that increasing trust in the health care system is important in encouraging conscious drug use in society.