Nonadherence to medications among pharmacy clients and their attitude toward medications kept a medicine cabinet at home.
OBJECTIVE
To assess self-reported adherence among pharmacy clients and to detect if there are any differences in medication use or storage between genders.


METHODS
The data were collected by means of questionnaires. A standard 45-item questionnaire was developed and used to assess adherence and nonadherence to medications. It was distributed to all pharmacy customers who entered pharmacies chosen by us.


RESULTS
Of the 162 (45 men and 117 women) pharmacy clients participating in the study, 36.42% were considered nonadherent. No significant difference in adherence rates between genders was observed (P>0.05). Women more often named themselves as being responsible for a medicine cabinet at home (P<0.001) and used more sources of information on medications (P<0.05). Women also more frequently checked the expiry date of medications in a medicine cabinet home than men (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The problem of nonadherence to medications exists among pharmacy clients. There is no significant difference in the rate of self-reported adherence between male and female pharmacy clients. Women are the ones named as responsible for a medicine cabinet at home. They also are important health decision makers. Women are more interested in information on medicines and their use; therefore, this demand should be satisfied.
Dauksiene
Jurgita
J
Department of Drug Technology and Social Pharmacy, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 51, 50106 Kaunas, Lithuania. jurgita.dauksiene@gmail.com
Radziūnas
Raimondas
R
D001294:Attitude to Health; D016303:Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems; D004346:Drug Information Services; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010361:Patients; D011634:Public Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires