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Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

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Drugs & Aging
Published in: Drugs & Aging 3/2017

01-03-2017 | Review Article

Improving Medication Adherence and Health Outcomes in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Authors: Zachary A. Marcum, Joseph T. Hanlon, Michael D. Murray

Published in: Drugs & Aging | Issue 3/2017

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Abstract

Background

Poor medication adherence is a major public health problem in older adults often resulting in negative health outcomes.

Objective

The objective of this review was to provide an updated summary of evidence from randomized controlled studies to determine whether interventions aimed at improving medication adherence also improve the health outcomes of older adults residing in community-based settings.

Methods

Articles that assessed medication adherence interventions and related health outcomes in elderly individuals were identified through searches of MEDLINE (1970–June 2016), the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (through to June 2016), and Google Scholar. Across the 12 included studies, interventions were grouped into three main categories: behavioral/educational (n = 3), pharmacist-led (n = 7), and reminder/simplification (n = 2).

Results

Among the behavioral/educational intervention studies, two showed improvements in both adherence and related health outcomes, whereas one found no changes in adherence or health outcomes. Among the pharmacist-led studies, three showed improvements in both adherence and related health outcomes, while three reported no changes in adherence or health outcomes. One found an improvement in adherence but not health outcomes. Among the reminder/simplification studies, both studies reported improvements in adherence without a significant impact on related health outcomes.

Conclusion

This evidence-based review of medication adherence interventions in older adults revealed promising strategies in the larger context of a largely mixed body of literature. Future patient-centered and multidisciplinary interventions should be developed and tested using evidence-based principles to improve medication adherence and health outcomes in older adults.
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Metadata
Title
Improving Medication Adherence and Health Outcomes in Older Adults: An Evidence-Based Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors
Zachary A. Marcum
Joseph T. Hanlon
Michael D. Murray
Publication date
01-03-2017
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drugs & Aging / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 1170-229X
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1969
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-016-0433-7

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