Unintentional non-adherence and belief in medicines in older adults.

Objective: To determine whether beliefs in medicines are associated with forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Methods: Using a survey research design, baseline data (N=1220) and follow-up data (N=1024) were collected through an Internet survey using a convenience sample from Medicare enrollees aged 65 and older and who were Internet users. Logistic regression models were used to determine if patient's beliefs about the necessity of taking prescribed medications and their concern beliefs regarding the potential consequences of taking medications were significant in predicting forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Results: Concern beliefs in medicines were a significant predictor of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications.

Conclusion: If all cases of forgetfulness and carelessness in taking medications are considered as unintentional non-adherence with no reference to the patient's beliefs in medicines; using cue based interventions such as phone reminders or alarms are not likely to reduce non-adherence. There was a strong association between patient belief in medications and non-adherence in older adults who were Medicare enrollees.

Practical Implications: It is important that researchers consider the influence that patient medication beliefs have on patient adherence to develop better interventions to reduce non-adherence.