title: Knowledge and Adherence to Medications among Palestinian Geriatrics Living with Chronic Diseases in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adequate patient knowledge about medications is essential for appropriate drug taking behavior and patient adherence. This study aims to assess and quantify the level of knowledge and adherence to medications among Palestinian geriatrics living with chronic diseases and to investigate possible associated socio-demographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study during June 2013 and January 2014 among Palestinian geriatrics ≥ 60 years old living with chronic disease in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. A stratified random sample was selected and a questionnaire-assisted interview was applied for data collection. T-test was applied for bivariate analyzing and one-way ANOVA test was applied for multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1192 Palestinian geriatrics were studied. The average age was 70.3 (SD = 8.58) years and ranged from 60-110 years. The sample comprised 659 (55.3%) females and 533 (44.7%) males. The global knowledge and global adherence scores were (67.57%) and (89.29%), respectively. Adequate levels of knowledge were 71.4%, and of adherence 75%, which were recorded for 705 (59.1%) and 1088 (91.3%) participants, respectively. Significant higher levels of global knowledge and global adherence were recorded for males, and for participants who hold a Bachelor's degree, those who live on their own, and did physical activity for more than 40 hours/week (p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, workers, participants with a higher monthly income, and non-smokers have a higher knowledge level with (p-value < 0.05). We found positive correlation between participants' global adherence and global knowledge (r = 0.487 and p-value < 0.001). Negative correlation was found between participants' global knowledge and adherence with age (r = -0.236, p-value < 0.001 and r = -0.211 and p-value < 0.001, respectively. Negative correlation between global knowledge and the number of drugs taken (r = -0.130, p-value < 0.001) was predicted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We concluded that patients with a higher level of knowledge are more adherent to their medications and that better understanding of socio-demographic factors has a clear influence on the level of knowledge and adherence to medications and thus contributes to the development of guidelines for treatment and may consequently lead to favourable clinical outcomes and savings of health care costs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Najjar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Yazan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amro
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Islam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kitaneh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Salam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abu-Sharar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawalha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Abrar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamous
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Muhannad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiq
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Enas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makharzeh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Bayan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Subb Laban
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Amro
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class