Background: In 2007, a drug benefit plan for Seniors (SDP) was launched in Saskatchewan, Canada. SDP capped out-of-pocket costs at $15 per prescription for individuals aged 65 and older.
Objectives: To quantify the impact of the SDP on chronic medication adherence. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted for participants aged 65 or older who were eligible to the SPD, controlled by a younger group aged 40 to 64 who were ineligible. Adherence was measured over 365 days using medication possession ratio (MPR). MPRs were compared between age groups, and between pre and post SDP-launch periods. The odds ratio of optimal adherence (i.e., MPR≥80%) was estimated using logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations (GEE).
Results: Between 2005 and 2009, 353,568 adherence observations were observed from 188,109 unique patients. Comparing the post-SDP period vs before, the increase in the odds of optimal medication adherence was significant (OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.11) and was stronger after excluding patients already receiving medication benefits from other government programs (OR= 1.21, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.26). The SDP was associated with improved adherence among the subgroup of prevalent medication users (OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.12), but not incident users (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.13).
Conclusion: Reducing out-of-pocket medication costs for seniors was associated with small improvements in medication adherence across the population.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.22374/1710-6222.25.1.1 | DOI Listing |
Unlabelled: Hypertension disproportionately affects African Americans, and adequate blood pressure (BP) control remains a challenge. Self-management of hypertension is critical for improving BP control and reducing hypertension-related morbidities.
Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe hypertension self-management (HTN-SM) behaviors and the relationship between HTN-SM and self-reported BP in middle- to older-aged African American adults.
PLoS One
January 2025
School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Background: Adherence to HIV treatment regimens involves the consistent and correct intake of all prescribed medications. The implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) program has significantly reduced mortality among adolescents living with HIV. However, adherence to ART is lower among adolescents compared to other sub-populations and even lower in sub-Saharan Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Background: Adherence to treatment guidelines for agitation in dementia is suboptimal and inconsistent. We designed an Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) that standardized behavioral and pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia, and evaluated it against treatment-as-usual (TAU). The two primary hypotheses were that, compared to TAU, the ICP would result in (1) lower agitation and (2) lower rates of polypharmacy at study end.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMonaldi Arch Chest Dis
December 2024
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry.
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the role of peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) in the management of inhalation therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Conducted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine at a tertiary care institute from July 2021 to January 2022, this study included a total of 351 patients who were clinically diagnosed with stable COPD and currently receiving inhaler therapy. Participants underwent comprehensive assessments that included demographic data collection, the use of the ABCD assessment tool to evaluate disease severity, the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) for quality of life measurement, and assessments for adherence to inhaler therapy and inhaler technique proficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDan Med J
November 2024
Danish Breast Cancer Group, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet.
Introduction: Most postmenopausal women with early-stage oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer are allocated to five years of endocrine therapy. This treatment is not without adverse effects, which may lead to treatment discontinuation. This study aimed to assess compliance with endocrine therapy among postmenopausal women with early-stage oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and examine its association with disease-free survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!