Correlates of medication knowledge and adherence: findings from the residency research network of South Texas.
BACKGROUND
Medication adherence is a complex phenomenon, influenced by a variety of factors. Most adherence research focuses on one medicine and does not represent the realities of clinical family medicine. This analysis examined factors associated with medication knowledge and adherence in family medicine patients with chronic conditions.


METHODS
The Residency Research Network of South Texas (RRNeST) enrolled 150 patients with chronic disease who "sometimes have trouble taking medicines." Seventy-five percent were Latinos. This cross-sectional analysis used baseline survey data from an intervention study. Investigators correlated medication knowledge and adherence with known predictors--patient, health, medication, economic, and physician factors. New variables related to patients' motivation to change treatment behaviors ("importance" and "confidence") were also included.


RESULTS
Linear regression analysis demonstrated that patient satisfaction, education level, and confidence were associated with better medication knowledge. Higher confidence, Spanish language, better functional and health status, and more prescription medicines were correlated with medication adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that family physicians enhance medication adherence by providing good information about treatment and counseling strategies to build patients' confidence. Our findings suggest that poor health status can be a barrier to, rather than a motivator for, treatment adherence.
Burge
Sandra
S
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78220, USA. burge@uthscsa.edu
White
Darryl
D
Bajorek
Ellen
E
Bazaldua
Oralia
O
Trevino
Juan
J
Albright
Theresa
T
Wright
Frank
F
Cigarroa
Leo
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas