Influencing Factors for Medication Experience and Medication Adherence in Elderly Patients with Chronic Diseases

Background With the accelerated population aging, the number of elderly patients with chronic diseases is growingly elevated. Adherence to medication regimens is pivotal for the health outcomes of chronic diseases. Existing research mainly analyzed influencing factors for medication adherence and the outcome of medication adherence by interventions. A single analysis of medication adherence from the aspect of medication experience is one-sided. Objective To understand the current situations of medication experience and medication adherence in elderly patients with chronic diseases, and to explore the influence of medication experience at multiple dimensions on medication adherence, thus proposing countermeasures to improve medication adherence in elderly patients with chronic diseases. Methods From September 2023 to December 2023, a total of 2 432 residents of three cities in Shandong Province were selected by stratified random sampling according to the economic level and social development. Elderly patients (>60 years of age) with chronic diseases and long-term medications were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A self-designed Medication Experience Scale, consisting of 7 dimensions and 28 items was used to investigate the medication experience. A Chinese version of 4-item Medication Adherence Scale was used to investigate the medication adherence. Current status of patients' medication experience and medication adherence were described. Multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the dimensions of medication experience that greatly influenced medication adherence. Results A total of 2 432 questionnaires were distributed in this survey, and 2 415 were retrieved. After excluding samples with missing data on the main variables, a total of 1 544 samples were included in this study. The mean score of medication experience of elderly patients with chronic diseases was (4.31±0.39) point, with the highest score in the dimension of life influenced by medication (4.72±0.58) points, and lowest in the dimension of convenience (3.86±0.49) points. The mean score of medication adherence in elderly patients with chronic diseases was (3.48±0.62) points. A total of 698 (45.2%) patients were identified as a poor adherence. The most common cause for non-adherence was 'forgetting to take medication' (77.1%, 538/698). Medication adherence scores were significantly lower in female elderly, or elderly patients with two or more chronic diseases than those of counterparts (P<0.05). The results of multivariate linear regression showed that medication adherence was worse in female elderly patients (β=-0.056) and elderly patients with two or more chronic diseases (β=-0.053) (P<0.05). Among the dimensions of the Medication Experience Scale, the dimensions of effectiveness (β=0.083), and affordability (β=0.135) positively predicted patients' medication adherence (P<0.05) . Conclusion The proportion of elderly patients with poor medication adherence to chronic diseases in Shandong Province is 45.2%, among whom, female patients and elderly patients with two or more chronic diseases have a worse medication adherence. The effectiveness and affordability dimensions of the medication experience are positive predictors of medication adherence. Relevant departments should focus on continuously reducing the price of chronic disease medicines, and doctors should strengthen the pharmacy guidance service provided to female patients and elderly patients with two or more chronic diseases.