Barriers to adherence in elderly heart failure patients

We determined the knowledge and skills associated with medication adherence for 61 heart failure patients over the age of 50. Adherence data were collected using electronic medication event nlonitoringsystems, pharmacy refills, and participants' self-report. Only 200 of participants correctly remembered their medications' indications, but larger proportions could read preseription labels (62%), distinguish tablet and capsule colors (54T), and open medication bottles with flip-top lids (100%), and knew the medication dosages (660) and administration times (49T). We modeled the effects of knowledge and medication skills on medication adherence while controlling for demographics. The final mixed effect multiple logistic model contained knowledge of correct dosing times (p=0.001) and reading ability (p=0.029) as the best predictors of medication adherence. Our assessments and model identified patient-specific barriers to adherence and predicted patients at risk of poor adherence who may be targets of an intervention.