Comparing medication adherence tools scores and number of controlled diseases among low literacy patients discharged from a Brazilian cardiology ward.
Background Adherence to prescribed drug therapy is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular causes of death. In view of the relevance for public health, it is important to understand the relation between medication adherence tools' scores, especially in low literacy patients discharged from a cardiology ward. Objectives We aimed to assess: (a) the association between number of controlled clinical conditions and adherence tools scores, and (b) the correlation between the scores of three instruments to assess adherence. Methods We conducted a prospective study and included patients discharged from a specialized cardiovascular ward in Brazil. The results of the Beliefs about Medicines questionnaire (BMQ), the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS) and the MedTake test were compared. Results Of 53 included patients, most of them were elderly, and did not complete primary school. On average, there were six health conditions per patient, where two of them were not controlled. ARMS was the only tool that was associated with number of controlled health conditions (r = -0.312, p < 0.05). Moreover, ARMS (average score 15.6 ± 3.4) had significant correlation with MEDTAKE (r = 0.535, p < 0.01) and BMQ (r = 0.38, p < 0.01). BMQ and MEDTAKE were also positively correlated (r = 0.311, p < 0.05). Conclusions Clinically, higher ARMS scores (>12) suggest assumed non-adherence. It is also negatively correlated with the number of controlled clinical conditions in low literacy elderlies with cardiovascular diseases.
Clinical Pharmacy Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 2350 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, 90035-903, Brazil. patriciabaruel@gmail.com.
Patrícia Carvalho
PC
Baruel Okumura
Clinical Pharmacy Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 2350 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, 90035-903, Brazil.
Lucas Miyake
LM
Okumura
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil.
Wálleri Christini Torelli
WC
Reis
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil.
Rangel Ray
RR
Godoy
Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, 181 Gen. Carneiro St., Curitiba, 80060-900, Brazil.
Bianca de Oliveira
BO
Cata-Preta
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil.
Thais Teles
TT
de Souza
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil.
Maria Luiza Drechsel
ML
Fávero
Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil.
Cassyano Januário
CJ
Correr
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000639:trends; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies
Brazil; Medication adherence; Patient compliance; Pharmaceutical care; Polypharmacy