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Updated: May 8, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Older people's attitudes towards their regular medicines
Michael Bagge1, June Tordoff, Pauline Norris
1School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. michaellogan.bagge@gmail.com
Journal of Primary Health Care
|September 3, 2013
Summary
Older adults dislike taking prescription medicines but accept them as necessary. This willingness to adhere to medication routines may be higher than previously suggested by adherence studies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Qualitative Research
Background:
- Existing research often focuses on medication adherence in older adults.
- Few studies explore the nuanced attitudes of individuals aged 75+ towards both prescription and non-prescription medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the attitudes of individuals aged 75 years and older towards their regular prescription and non-prescription medicines.
Main Methods:
- Two investigations involving 60 participants aged 75+ were conducted.
- Methods included oral history interviews and semi-structured interviews post-hospital discharge.
- Thematic analysis was applied to digitally recorded and transcribed interviews.
Main Results:
- Participants expressed a dislike for prescription medicines but recognized their necessity.
- Trust in physician expertise regarding medications was high.
- Most participants prioritized regular intake of prescription medicines, despite occasional forgetfulness, and were not anxious about side effects.
- A preference to limit non-prescription and analgesic use perceived as unnecessary was noted.
Conclusions:
- Despite reservations, older adults are willing to integrate necessary prescription medicines into their routines.
- Findings suggest a potentially higher willingness to take medications among older populations than indicated by broader adherence studies.
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