MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS RECEIVING HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN WATERBERG DISTRICT, LIMPOPO PROVINCE: A Qualitative phenomenological study protocol

Introduction: Medication adherence among elderly patients is crucial for maintaining their health and well-being; many face challenges that hinder their ability to follow prescribed regimens. This study aims to investigate the experiences to identify barriers and facilitators influencing adherence and to describe the perceptions of medication adherence among the elderly. Health care professionals can tailor targeted intervention to the challenges faced by the elderly to improve medication adherence among elderly patients. Study design this is a qualitative phenomenological study protocol. Methods and analysis: The target population for this study comprises elderly patients aged 60 years and above residing in the Waterberg District who have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease and are receiving healthcare services. This study will be conducted in FH Odendaal hospital, in the Waterberg district. The inclusion criteria for this study are elderly patients aged 60 years or above who have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease and can provide informed consent and have been using medication for at least three months. The researcher anticipates enrolling 15 to 30 participants, stopping when saturation is reached, and no new themes emerge. The data saturation point will determine the final number of participants, ensuring that the diversity and depth of participants' understanding are adequately captured. The researcher will use purposive sampling. Data will be collected through interviews with two central questions, and probing will be used based on the participants' responses. The collected data will be analysed thematically. Ethics and dissemination: The proposal has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Venda. Permission to conduct the study will be obtained from the Limpopo Department of Health, the Waterberg District, and the selected hospital. Autonomy, confidentiality, care for the vulnerable group, and informed consent will be maintained. Key findings will be disseminated through academic publications, community settings, policymakers, and healthcare providers in a selected hospital.