Medication Adherence in a Cardiac Ambulatory Setting: The Challenge Continues

Abstract

Adhering to a prescribed course of medication can be problematic for patients who take multiple prescriptions to manage chronic illnesses. This study explored the prevalence of medication adherence among patients in a cardiology ambulatory care setting using a survey-based, descriptive-comparative design. We begin this article by reviewing the medication adherence challenge. Next we describe our research method, which utilized the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8©) and Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI), to collect the data. Our results showed that the MMAS-8© scores of participants indicated ‘low adherence.’ A positive correlation was found between older age (>65 years) and remembering to take medications. MRCI scores were in the moderate range. Patients 65 years and older reported remembering their medications more frequently than younger patients. We also discuss our results and study limitations, and consider implications for research and practice. The conclusion suggests that medication adherence remains a significant problem. Clinicians in ambulatory care need to address the challenge of non-adherence. Although rigorous interventions are needed to promote adherence for all age patients, an emphasis on the younger population may be necessary.