The effectiveness of microlearning-based education on medication adherence and health literacy in elderly individuals: a randomized controlled trial

The global population is rapidly aging. Owing to their unique characteristics, older adults require innovative educational methods to optimize the effectiveness of behavioral change, and microlearning is a recent educational model. This study aimed to examine the impact of microlearning-based education on medication adherence and health literacy in the elderly population. This randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2024, with a trial registration number of (IRCT20191231045966N2) (10/04/2024). A total of 118 elderly participants were selected on the basis of the inclusion criteria and allocated to the intervention and control groups via the block randomization method. The data collection tools included demographic questionnaires, the Morisky medication adherence scale and the health literacy scale. The intervention group received video clips designed via the microlearning method, whereas the control group received standard interventions. The participants completed the aforementioned questionnaires at baseline and after 8 weeks. The collected data were entered into SPSS software version 22 and analyzed via descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential (chi-square, Fisher's exact test, independent t test) statistics. No significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups in terms of age, sex, marital status, education level, income status, type of disease, method of obtaining medication information, medication adherence level, or health literacy before the intervention, confirming homogeneity. The post intervention results revealed a significant difference in the mean medication adherence score between the intervention group (6.71 ± 1.78) and the control group (5.66 ± 2.10) (P = 0.001), indicating a greater level of medication adherence in the intervention group. However, in the health literacy domain, despite an increase in the mean health literacy score in the intervention group (66.96 ± 14.41) compared with that in the control group (63.03 ± 15.74), no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.160). The microlearning training method is an effective educational approach for enhancing medication adherence in older adults. Proper medication use is likely to improve disease management and ensure a better quality of life for older adults. Therefore, the implementation of this educational method to increase health-related variables for this group is recommended.