A Community-Based Educational Intervention: Increasing Medication Adherence in Rural Older Adults.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based, interdisciplinary, medication education intervention for rural older adults. METHODS: The research design was a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design. Self-efficacy, adherence to refills and medication, and knowledge were examined. An educational intervention was conducted with each participant on their prescribed medications. FINDINGS: Mean scores for the adherence to refills and medication subscale decreased from 9.9 to 8.5 (p = .003) indicating improved adherence. Mean scores for the knowledge subscale increased from 21.8 to 22.4 (p = .192). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a community-based, interdisciplinary, individualized medication education intervention could increase medication adherence in rural older adults.