Abstract
Objectives: (1) to examine prevalence of medication non-adherence (2) to investigate the factors contributing to non-adherence to medication treatment among elderly patients with non-communicable diseases receiving treatment as outpatients. (3) To evaluate the value of unused medication resulting from non-adherence to medication treatment among elderly patients with non-communicable diseases. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Participants were selected from the electronic hospital database using random sampling. Data will be collected through a developed interview questionnaire based on the study objectives. Study setting in rural area was NongPhra district Health Promotion Hospital, Phitsanulok; in urban area was Rajvithi hospital, Bangkok. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, employing SPSS version 21. Results: In rural area, from 214 participants, overall prevalence of medication non-adherence in older adults with non-communicable diseases patients was 98.1%. Prevalence of non-adherence patients for each step were as followed; refill 43 (20.1%) understand 185 (86.4%) organize 174 (81.3%) take 175 (81.8%) monitor 181 (84.6%) sustain 175 (81.8%). The total of unused medicine was 11,007.5 pills. The economic impact of unused medicine was 10,027.63 Baht and average 63.07 Baht per person. Medication for treating cardiovascular diseases were mostly involved in medication non-adherence. In urban area, from a sample of 286 elderly patients with non-communicable diseases, the prevalence of medication non-adherence in elderly patients with non-communicable diseases was 29.72%. For the factors associated with non-adherence using chi-square and Fisher exact tests, no significant differences were found between the two sample groups. When calculating the quantity and value of unused medication for the entire sample group, it was found that there were 11,341 remaining medication units with a total value of 46,339.14 Baht, averaging 545.16 Baht per patient. Atorvastatin 40 mg was the medication with the highest value of unused medication, amounting to 12,337.50 Baht, while Metformin 500 mg was the highest quantity of unused medication with 11,141.50 medication units. Conclusions: Medication non-adherence is prevalent, especially in rural area. Effective and easy interventions should be in place for dealing with medication non-adherence.
