Approaches to enhance medication adherence among older people
An umbrella review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2026.60.3.3255Keywords:
older people, medication, chronic disease, interventionsAbstract
Introduction: Increased life expectancy has led to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases that require long-term treatment and sustained medication adherence. As medication non-adherence represents a major challenge in health care and society at large, the aim of this literature review was to identify effective approaches that promote medication adherence in older people.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted an umbrella literature review in March 2023. The literature search was performed in the PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tool to assess the quality of the included articles.
Results: Of the 242 records retrieved, seven articles were included in the content analysis, synthesis and compilation. Four subcategories contributing to medication adherence in older people were identified: 1) health education for older people; 2) medication monitoring; 3) use of medication dispensers; and 4) instruments for assessing medication adherence.
Discussion and conclusion: The analysis revealed several approaches to improving medication adherence in older people. Key approaches include health education, medication monitoring, dispensers, and instruments for assessing medication adherence. These approaches offer valuable insights into improving older people’s health status and quality of life.
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