Medication adherence interventions for older adults: literature review

This literature review explores the range and nature of medication adherence interventions tested with older adults. The unique needs of older adults require specifically designed and tailored interventions. Low medication adherence rates among some elderly contribute to inadequate pharmacological management of illnesses. Searches were conducted to identify randomized controlled trials of medication adherence; computerized databases, journal hand searches, and ancestry searches yielded 63 studies published between 1977 and 2005 where participants' mean age was > 60 years. Interventions were categorized by focus (patient, medication, and administration factors). Most were geared toward promoting knowledge and skills for medication-taking and adherence. Gaps were noted in addressing memory aids and self-monitoring strategies; further development of interventions addressing medication and administration factors influencing adherence are also needed. Identified interventions are geared toward self-medicating patients and fail to address caregivers administering medications. Finally, interventions do little to address variations in patterns of adherence among older adults.