Adherence to drug therapy in diabetic elderly

• Main Authors: Anna Karla de Oliveira Tito Borba, Ana Paula de Oliveira Marques, Márcia Carrera Campos Leal, Roberta de Souza Pereira da Silva Ramos, Ana Clara Carvalho Gonçalves Guerra, Thaysa Melo Caldas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Ceará 2013-05-01
• Series: Rev Rene
• Subjects: Adherence to Medication; Elderly; Diabetes Mellitus
• Online Access: http://www.revistarene.ufc.br/revista/index.php/revista/article/view/1172/pdf_1

Sectional and observational study, which investigates access to medicine, socioeconomic and demographic profiles and their association with drug adherence to drug therapy in diabetic elderly assisted in a gerontogeriatric public service. Data were collected from 126 participants through structured interviews between February and September 2011. The results reveal that 47.6% of the elderly received their drug from the public health system. The elderly women prevailed, in more than 9 years of studies, retired and income of 1-2 minimum wages. As for drug adherence, 93.7% reported using their medication regularly, but only 52.4% were considered compliant under the Test of Batalha. There was no association between socioeconomic and demographic variables and self-reported adherence. It is necessary to invest in educational initiatives targeted to the elderly patients to promote adherence to therapy.