Assessing Medication Literacy and Its Determinants in Chinese Patients with Multimorbidity

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Education
• Gerontology

Background:

• Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple chronic conditions, presents significant challenges in managing patient care.
• Effective medication management is crucial for patients with multimorbidity to prevent adverse events and improve health outcomes.
• Medication literacy, the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions, is a key determinant of medication adherence and self-management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current status of medication literacy among patients with multimorbidity.
• To identify key factors influencing medication literacy in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 3,955 patients diagnosed with multimorbidity.
• The study utilized the medication literacy scale for assessment, with data collected between June and August 2023.
• Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson's correlation, and multiple stepwise linear regression.

Main Results:

• The average medication literacy score was 18.56±4.52 (scale range: 6-30).
• Factors positively associated with higher medication literacy included younger age, higher education levels, being currently married, unmarried, or divorced, urban residence, and greater social support.
• Conversely, older age (≥60 years), lower education, widowed status, residence in Central/Western China, and higher scores of depressive symptoms were associated with lower medication literacy.

Conclusions:

• Medication literacy is a critical concern for patients with multimorbidity.
• Interventions should aim to enhance medication understanding, particularly for vulnerable subgroups such as older adults, those with lower educational attainment, and individuals residing in rural or specific geographic regions.
• Addressing depression and bolstering social support are essential components for improving medication literacy and management in patients with multimorbidity.