Medication information sources and associated factors among older adults in Nanjing, China: a CMIS-based cross-sectional study

Functional decline and high disease prevalence increases medication needs among older adults, making medication safety a pressing concern. Yet older adults often face limited access, uneven quality, and comprehension barriers. This study investigates medication information sources and associated factors among older adults in Nanjing, China, to guide improved dissemination and safety strategies. A questionnaire survey based on the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) was conducted among older adults in Nanjing, China. Descriptive statistics assessed use of seven medication information sources, and binary logistic regression identified factors associated with source selection. Among 165 participants, 90.3% used multiple sources in the past six months, averaging 4.7 per person. Doctors (86.7%), non-professional interpersonal networks (68.5%), and professional medical materials (66.1%) were most common, whereas internet use was lowest (32.1%). Higher perceived information-seeking ability significantly increased use of the internet (OR = 2.90), professional materials (OR = 2.68), doctors (OR = 4.46), pharmacists (2.21), nurses (OR = 2.40), and traditional media (OR = 2.37). Source characteristics also influenced choices: information quality affected doctors (OR = 19.33), pharmacists (OR = 2.39), and nurses (OR = 3.16); comprehensibility influenced pharmacists (OR = 2.67), nurses (OR = 3.16), traditional media (OR = 3.01), non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 4.75), and professional medical materials (OR = 5.40); accessibility was associated with traditional media (OR = 3.33) and non-professional interpersonal networks (OR = 5.61); and credibility strongly predicted non-professional interpersonal networks use (OR = 19.69). Medication experience and perceived utility were additional predictors. Older adults in China rely on doctors, professional medical materials and heavily on non-professional interpersonal networks, with limited use of internet sources. Enhancing physician–family communication, improving source content, and strengthening health information literacy may improve medication information access and safety.