Discussion on the methods to improve medication adherence among low health literacy patients

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-141
Author(s):  
ShuJie DONG ◽  
Yan LI ◽  
SuoDi ZHAI
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Low Health Literacy

scholarly journals Utility of medicines information leaflets in hypertensive care in a setting with low health literacy: A cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239920262091003
Author(s):  
Mtungwazi Kudzinesta ◽  
Mwangana Mubita ◽  
Francis Kalemeera ◽  
Brian Godman ◽  
Ester Hango ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
Hypertensive Patients ◽  
Information Leaflets ◽  
Medicines Information ◽  
Low Health Literacy

Introduction: Higher levels of health literacy improve utilization of health information, medication adherence and outcomes. Few studies evaluate the utility of medicines information in hypertensive care in settings with low health literacy. Aim: To determine the level of health literacy and utility of medicines information leaflets (MILs) among hypertensive patients in public health care in Namibia. Methods: A hospital-based survey among hypertensive patients receiving care at a referral hospital in Namibia from the 8 June 2018 to 29 June 2018. Patient’s health literacy and utility of MIL were assessed using three literacy tools and a survey questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic content analysis for factors associate with the utility of the MIL. Results: Of the 139 patients, 63% were female and the mean age was 45.7 (range: 19.0–84.0) years. Over 85.6% had of low literacy skills (Rapid Estimate of Literacy in Medicine (REALM) score <44, that is, unable to read simple health materials), 38.8% had positive Single Item Literacy Screener (SILS) scores (⩾2, require help to read medicines information) and 66.9% had inadequate skills for comprehension, appraisal and decision-making with regard to health information (Health Literacy Skills Instrument-Short Form (HLSI-SF) score <70%). The level of access to and utility of MIL were low, 32.4% and 34.6%, respectively. The main factors associated with poor utility of the MIL were low patient health literacy, lack of guidelines on the use of MIL and MIL written in non-native languages. Conclusion: Low rates of health literacy and utility of MIL were observed among hypertensive patients in Namibia. The integration of health literacy programmes, and MIL guidelines are needed to promote utility of medicine information and improve medication adherence.

“Why Am I Not Taking Medications?” Barriers and Facilitators of Diabetes Medication Adherence Across Different Health Literacy Levels

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (14) ◽  
pp. 2331-2342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Ming Huang ◽  
Kristen E. Pecanac ◽  
Olayinka O. Shiyanbola
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Internal Locus Of Control ◽  
Tailored Interventions ◽  
The Cost

Medication adherence is important for diabetes management. Better knowledge of how patient factors relate to medication adherence allows us to develop more tailored interventions. We explore patients’ perceptions of the barriers to and facilitators of medication adherence across different levels of health literacy. Semi-structured interviews with 23 participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were completed, and direct content analysis identified the facilitators of and the barriers to medication adherence through the lens of the Health Literacy Pathway model. Linking medication-taking to daily routine and focusing on the internal locus of control are imperative approaches to fostering self-efficacy of medication use. Understanding patients’ life experiences and clarifying medication misinformation help patients address their concerns with medications. Lowering the cost of medications and simplifying therapy regimens can alleviate participants’ perceived barriers to medication-taking. In this study, we explore medication adherence from the experience of people with T2D and can inform tailored interventions to improve medication adherence.

scholarly journals Mediators of the association of limited English health literacy with medication non-adherence among Singaporean elderly

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
Sumithra Suppiah ◽  
Yi Wen Tan ◽  
Grand H-L Cheng ◽  
Wern Ee Tang ◽  
Rahul Malhotra
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Medication Use ◽  
Prescription Medication ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
P Value ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Written Information ◽  
Bilingual Text ◽  
Significant Mediator

Background: In Singapore, English is predominantly used on prescription medication labels (PMLs). However, many older Singaporeans cannot read English, and among those who read English, their English health literacy (EHL) proficiency varies. It is thus pertinent to examine the link between EHL and medication use outcomes in this population. The present research aims to address this question. Methods: Data from a national survey, on 1167 home-dwelling elderly on ⩾1 prescribed medication was analysed. The validated Health Literacy Test for Singapore was used to determine EHL. Medication non-adherence was self-reported. Path analysis examined the association between limited EHL and medication non-adherence and tested possible mediators. Results: Limited EHL was associated with medication non-adherence (total effect=0.35; p-value: 0.032), and ‘uncertainty in taking medications correctly due to difficulty in understanding written information on PMLs’ was a significant mediator (indirect effect=0.23, 95% confidence interval (0.12–0.39)). Conclusions: Elderly people with limited EHL were significantly more likely than those with adequate EHL to report that they were uncertain about taking medications correctly because they had difficulty understanding the information on PMLs and this misunderstanding contributed to medication non-adherence. Interventions focused on incorporating bilingual text and/or pictograms on PMLs may reduce uncertainty in taking medication correctly and improve medication adherence among the elderly.

A health literacy pilot intervention to improve medication adherence using Meducation® technology

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah L. Zullig ◽  
Felicia McCant ◽  
S. Dee Melnyk ◽  
Susanne Danus ◽  
Hayden B. Bosworth
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Pilot Intervention

scholarly journals A Medication Template for Patients with Chronic Medical Conditions to Promote Medication Adherence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninad Sanghani
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Primary Care Setting ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Improve Medication Adherence ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
The Us ◽  
Care Costs

In primary care setting, patients with chronic illnesses are prescribed and treated with multiple medications. Almost 50% of them do not take their medications as prescribed and this non-adherence causes poor health outcomes and is associated with additional $100 to $300 billion of avoidable health care costs in the US. Main risk factors for this are: low health literacy, lack of self-confidence in understanding purpose, intent, numeracy, dosing schedules, and memory impairment. Educating patients by writing description of medication, its purpose, side effects and additional information in a medication template can overcome the identified issues and improve medication adherence.

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