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Antihypertensive medication adherence among elderly Chinese Americans
Ya-Hui Hsu1, Chia-Ling Mao, Mercy Wey
1Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, San Jose, CA, USA.
Summary
Only 52% of Chinese American elders adhere to antihypertensive medications. Forgetfulness, side effects, language, and cultural barriers hinder adherence, necessitating culturally tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hypertension is a prevalent chronic condition among elderly populations.
- Medication adherence is crucial for managing hypertension and preventing complications.
- Understanding adherence barriers in specific ethnic groups is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the level of antihypertensive medication adherence among Chinese American elders.
- To identify demographic factors associated with antihypertensive medication nonadherence.
- To explore influential factors hindering medication adherence in this population.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed.
- Data were collected from Chinese American elders regarding their antihypertensive medication adherence.
- Statistical analyses examined relationships between adherence and demographic/influential factors.
Main Results:
- 52% of elderly Chinese Americans reported adherence to antihypertensive medications.
- Gender, education, residency duration, hypertension duration, and perceived medication safety did not significantly correlate with adherence.
- Forgetfulness, adverse medication effects, language barriers, and cultural factors were identified as significant barriers to adherence.
Conclusions:
- A significant proportion of Chinese American elders exhibit nonadherence to antihypertensive medications.
- Culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate strategies are needed to improve medication adherence.
- Addressing forgetfulness, side effects, language, and cultural barriers is essential for effective hypertension management in this demographic.
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