Knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to medication adherence of older patients with coronary heart disease in China.

Objectives: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to medication adherence in older patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: A total of 272 older patients with CHD were investigated by the Chinese version of the Medication Adherence Scale. The score ranges for the knowledge, attitudes, and barrier subscales were 0-30, 0-30, and 0-110, respectively. Higher scores indicate more knowledge, positive attitudes, and more barriers related to medication adherence.

Results: The median scores of knowledge, attitudes and barriers were 25.5, 28, and 8, respectively. Having stents, living alone, good financial status and fewer chronic diseases were related to more knowledge. Younger age, having no stent, and more chronic diseases were associated with more barriers. Patients with good financial status and higher age had more positive attitudes.

Conclusions: Understanding older patients' knowledge, attitudes, and barriers related to medication adherence and their associated factors can help develop tailored interventions in medication adherence studies.