Nurse interventions to improve medication adherence in older adults living at home
An integrative literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2025.59.3.3305Keywords:
medication adherence, community, older adult, nursing, interventionsAbstract
Introduction: The aging population and rising prevalence of chronic diseases have led to increased medication use; however, limited research has been conducted on medication adherence among older adults living at home. This study aims to identify the factors influencing medication adherence and examine the role of nurses in preventing and reducing medication non-adherence in home care settings.
Methods: A literature review was conducted using the Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Wiley, and ProQuest databases. Search terms included 'aged', 'home health care', 'medication adherence', and 'nurse'. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2025 were included in the analysis. A total of 21 studies were assessed for quality (using STROBE and COREQ standards) and subjected to thematic content analysis.
Results: The analysis identified several key areas addressed by nurses in managing medication non-adherence: patient education, motivation, use of assistive devices, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
Discussion and conclusion: Nurses play a pivotal role in recognising and addressing medication non-adherence among older adults in home care settings. Nursing interventions should be individualised to patient needs and therapeutic requirements, while being grounded in professional competencies. Given the inconsistent findings and limited evidence regarding intervention effectiveness, further research is needed to develop optimal, evidence-based nursing care approaches.
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