title: Medication Adherence in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: To effectively address medication adherence and improve cardiovascular health among older adults, a deeper understanding is needed of the barriers that this age group faces and approaches that would be most effective and feasible for improving adherence. We conducted a focus group study (n=25) in a diverse population of older adults with hypertension recruited from the Cohort Study of Medication Adherence in Older Adults (CoSMO). A structured guide was used to collect feedback on barriers to adherence and acceptability and feasibility of intervention strategies. The final coding framework outlines factors at the individual, relationship, health care system, and environmental or policy level which affect adherence in older adults, including memory, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, side effects, social support, interaction with health care providers, and cost and convenience of medication filling. Patient responses highlighted the varied nature of barriers and the need for interventions which are both multi-faceted and tailored.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; Dept. of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Ariane L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rung
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Kyla A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Firestein
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA ; Dept. of Internal Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA ; Dept. of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Krousel-Wood
keywords: adherence; geriatrics; health behavior; hypertension