title: Unintentional non-adherence and belief in medicines in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether beliefs in medicines are associated with forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a survey research design, baseline data (N=1220) and follow-up data (N=1024) were collected through an Internet survey using a convenience sample from Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older and who were Internet users. Logistic regression models were used to determine if patient's beliefs about the necessity of taking prescribed medications and their concern beliefs regarding the potential consequences of taking medications were significant in predicting forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concern beliefs in medicines were a significant predictor of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If all cases of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications are considered as unintentional non-adherence with no reference to the patient's beliefs in medicines; using cue based interventions such as phone reminders or alarms are not likely to reduce non-adherence. There was a strong association between patient belief in medications and non-adherence in older adults who were Medicare enrollees.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important that researchers consider the influence that patient medication beliefs have on patient adherence to develop better interventions to reduce non-adherence.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Nevada, South Jordan, UT 84095, USA. eunni@usn.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Unni
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Farris
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014481:United States; D016903:Drug Monitoring