Assessing adherence to multiple medications and in daily life among patients with multimorbidity
Title | Assessing adherence to multiple medications and in daily life among patients with multimorbidity |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Authors | Inauen, J, Bierbauer, W, Lüscher, J, König, C, Tobias, R, Ihle, A, Zimmerli, L, Holzer, B, Battegay, E, Siebenhüner, K, Kliegel, M, Scholz, U |
Journal | Psychology & Health |
Volume | 32 |
Issue | 10 |
Pagination | 1233–1248 |
Date Published | 10/2017 |
ISSN | 0887-0446 |
Keywords | electronic medication adherence, multimorbidity, multiple chronic conditions, multiple medications, polypharmacy, self-report |
Abstract | Objective: Chronic conditions often require multiple medication intake. However, past research has focused on assessing overall adherence or adherence to a single index medication only. This study explored adherence measures for multiple medication intake, and in daily life, among patients with multiple chronic conditions (i.e. multimorbidity). Design: Eighty-four patients with multimorbidity and multiple-medication regimens completed three monthly panel questionnaires. A randomly assigned subsample additionally completed a 30-day daily diary. Main outcome measure: The Non-Adherence Report; a brief self-report measure of adherence to each prescribed medication (NAR-M), and in daily life. We further assessed the Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS), and a subsample of participants were randomised to electronic adherence monitoring. Results: The NAR-M indicated M = 94.7% adherence at Time 1 (SD = 9.3%). The NAR-M was significantly correlated with the MARS (rt1 = .52, rt2 = .57, and rt3 = .65; p < .001), and in tendency with electronically assessed adherence (rt2 = .45, rt3 = .46, p < .10). Variance components analysis indicated that between-person differences accounted for 10.2% of the variance in NAR-M adherence rates, whereas 22.9% were attributable to medication by person interactions. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance and feasibility of studying adherence to multiple medications differentially, and in daily life. Future studies may use these measures to investigate within-person and between-medication differences in adherence. |
URL | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08870446.2016.1275632 |
DOI | 10.1080/08870446.2016.1275632 |
PubMed ID | 28043163 |