title: Predictors of Difficulty in Medication Intake in Europe: a Cross-country Analysis Based on SHARE.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and the predictors of difficulty in medication intake across Europe, using a cross-sectional design. We used data from all participants in the wave 4 of the SHARE (Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe) database, which is a cross national European survey. The difficulty in take medication was evaluated using an item from the "Limitations with activities of daily living". Clinical and sociodemographic variables were evaluated as potential predictors. A total of 58 124 individual have been included in this work (mean age=64.9 ± 10.4 years; 43.3% male). The rate of difficulty in taking medication across the 16 European evaluated countries was 2.1%, presenting Spain the highest rate (5.7%) and Switzerland the lowest (0.6%). Increasing age, physical inactivity, physical limitations (mobility, arms function and fine motor limitations, and difficulties in picking up a small coin from a table), a poor sense of meaning in life, and losses in memory and concentration are independent and significant variables associated with difficulty in medication intake across Europe. Predictors of difficulties in medication intake are multicausal, including factors related to physical, cognitive and psychological conditions. Interventions aiming to optimize adherence to medication, particularly in elderly population, need to consider this diversity of determinants.
authors.affiliation: 1University of Aveiro, School of Health Sciences, Aveiro, Portugal.; 2Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS.UA), Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poveda
authors.affiliation: 3Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.; 4CINTESIS, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Constança
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paúl
authors.affiliation: 5UCIBIO, REQUIMTE and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.affiliation: 5UCIBIO, REQUIMTE and Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Elísio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Costa
keywords: SHARE; difficulty in take medication; elderly; non-adherence; persistence