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Evaluating Factors Impacting Medication Adherence Among Rural, Urban, and Suburban Populations
Author(s) -
Arbuckle Cody,
Tomaszewski Daniel,
Aronson Benjamin D.,
Brown Lawrence,
Schommer Jon,
Morisky Donald,
Linstead Erik
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.439
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1748-0361
pISSN - 0890-765X
DOI - 10.1111/jrh.12291
Subject(s) - medicine , medication adherence , pharmacy , medical prescription , ethnic group , population , rural area , demography , gerontology , intervention (counseling) , family medicine , environmental health , nursing , pathology , sociology , anthropology
Purpose To evaluate differences in prescription medication adherence rates, as well as influencing factors, in rural and urban adults. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of the 2015 National Consumer Survey on the Medication Experience and Pharmacists' Role. A total of 26,173 participants completed the survey and provided usable data. Participants using between 1 and 30 prescription medications and living more than 0 miles and up to 200 miles from their nearest pharmacy were selected for the study, resulting in a total of 15,933 participants. Data from the 2010 US Census and Rural Health Research Center were used to determine the population density of each participant's ZIP code. Participant adherence to reported chronic medications was measured based on the 8‐item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS‐8). Findings Overall adherence rates did not differ significantly between rural and urban adults with average adherence based on MMAS‐8 scores of 5.58 and 5.64, respectively ( P = .253). Age, income, education, male sex, and white race/ethnicity were associated with higher adherence rates. While the overall adherence rates between urban and rural adults were not significantly different, the factors that influenced adherence varied between age‐specific population density groupings. Conclusion These analyses suggest that there is no significant difference in adherence between rural and urban populations; however, the factors contributing to medication adherence may vary based on age and population density. Future adherence intervention methods should be designed with consideration for these individualized factors.