Open AccessThe RxHL study: community-responsive research to explore barriers to medication adherence
Author(s) -
Susan Shaw,
Josephine D. Korchmaros,
Cristina Huebner Torres,
Molly S Totman,
Jeannie K. Lee
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
health education research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.601
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1465-3648
pISSN - 0268-1153
DOI - 10.1093/her/cyz029
Subject(s) - qualitative research , participatory action research , health literacy , community based participatory research , medicine , community health center , medical education , scope (computer science) , literacy , nursing , family medicine , health care , psychology , sociology , social science , anthropology , computer science , economics , programming language , economic growth , pedagogy
This study aims to contribute to the development of community-responsive research approaches by describing the research methods used in the RxHL study and the interprofessional and community-based collaboration that produced them. The mixed-method RxHL study was developed in close consultation with staff and providers at our research site, a federally qualified health center in Springfield, MA. We utilized quantitative methods including chart review, manual pill counts and self-report surveys to assess factors associated with medication adherence in a diverse population of low-income patients with chronic disease. We triangulated these results with findings from qualitative methods that included in-depth interviews, home visits and chronic disease diaries. We used the constant comparison method and interdisciplinary, participatory team meetings to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings. A community-responsive approach facilitated the recruitment and retention of a diverse sample of patients. Self-report surveys revealed the widespread scope of barriers to care such as medication costs and transportation, and limited health literacy among diverse groups. Qualitative research methods offered a deeper understanding of the social and environmental contexts in which medication adherence takes place. Prioritizing the needs of community partners and research participants facilitates rigorous data collection in clinical settings with maximum participation from community partners.