title: [Pharmacological treatment adherence by older patients after hospital discharge].
abstract: Little information is available on drug adherence in older patients after discharge or on predictors of non-adherence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of treatment adherence and associated factors in elderly patients after hospital discharge with a view to identifying opportunities for improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study of 70 patients aged over 65 years old discharged from an internal medicine unit who were self-sufficient regarding treatment management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 8.6% of patients complied with the recommended treatment. Eighty-five percent of the drugs were taken incorrectly: 67% were taken in excess, 33% were taken less than prescribed, and 54% were taken without following the recommendations concerning timetable and food intake. The most frequent reasons identified by the patients for not taking the medication correctly were lack of knowledge and forgetfulness. The most frequent risk factors were male gender, living with adult siblings, and taking a large number of prescribed medicines. Information given by the doctor about the treatment and assistance from a friend or relative at home increased adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment adherence after hospital discharge in patients aged over 65 years old is very low. Instruments should be sought to counter forgetfulness and recommendations should be adapted to improve patients' knowledge of prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Consultas Externas, Hospital Costa del Sol, Marbella, Málaga, España. picamu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellano-Muñoz
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda-Ruiz
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sojo-González
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Perea-Milla
authors.forename: José Javier
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García-Alegría
authors.forename: M Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Santos-Rubio
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010351:Patient Discharge