The Drug Compliance and Factors Influencing Therapeutic Regimen among Senior Citizen

Abstract

Background of the Study: One of the serious consequences in older patients is drug noncompliance. Nearly
40% to a high of 75% is estimated as the extend of noncompliance in the elderly .The aim of present study
is to determine the compliance level and to identify the factors influencing the therapeutic regimen among
senior citizen.
Materials and Method: Quantitative approach with non-experimental descriptive design was used. A
modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and modified WHO’s Adherence Model tool was
used to assess the level of compliance and to identify the factors influencing the therapeutic regimen among
the 409 subjects in Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi (AIMS).
Result: The study results showed that among 409 subjects,all were on medications and were between the
age group from 60 – 76 yrs and above, 210 (51.3%) subjects were male and 199(48.7%) subjects were
female,majority of the subjects 338(82.8%) were married the educational status of the subjects were
113(27.6%) had primary education and 160(39.1%) subjects had secondary education, nearly 228(55.7%)
subjects were unemployed and 119(29.1%) subjects were retired 65(15.9%) subjects had good compliance
however, 295(72.1%) subjects had moderate compliance and 49 subjects (12%) were identified with poor
compliance to therapeutic regimen. There was significantly high association between education(0.002),
income (0.043) and level of compliance (p<0.05), but there was no significant association between level of
compliance and other demographic variables.
Conclusion: The level of compliance among the elderly were good among highly educated elderly and of
high economic status.