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Medication Regimen Complexity and Low Adherence in Older Community-Dwelling Adults With Substantiated Self-Neglect
Sharon Abada1, Leslie E Clark2,3, Arup K Sinha1
11 School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, USA.
Objective:
Determine whether medication regimen complexity predicts medication adherence levels in a sample of community-dwelling adults 65 years and older with Adult Protective Services-substantiated self-neglect.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data ( N = 31 participants) from a pilot intervention to increase medication adherence among the target group was performed. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8)™ were the primary independent and dependent measures, respectively. A multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders, was conducted to estimate the association between complexity and adherence.
Results:
Regimen complexity was high (mean MRCI = 19.6) and adherence was low (mean MMAS = 5.1). Even after controlling for confounders, increased complexity was significantly associated with lower adherence.
Discussion:
Older community-dwelling adults who self-neglect have complex medication regimens that contribute to low medication adherence. Medication regimen complexity may be a modifiable contributor to low adherence that can be targeted by future interventions to reduce self-neglect and its consequences.
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