Journal article
Association of Health Literacy With Medication Knowledge, Adherence, and Adverse Drug Events Among Elderly Veterans
Journal of health communication, Vol.17(sup3), pp.241-251
10/01/2012
DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2012.712611
PMID: 23030573
Abstract
Health literacy is an important priority in health care delivery, but its effect on clinical outcomes remains incompletely elucidated. This observational cohort study examined the association of health literacy with medication knowledge, adherence, and adverse drug events among cognitively intact veterans older than 65 years old who were taking 5 or more medications and who were enrolled in a Veterans Administration primary care clinic. Health literacy was determined by the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine. Medication knowledge and adherence were assessed by clinical pharmacist interview and refill data. Adverse drug events were determined by interview and chart review at 3 and 12 months. The 310 subjects had a mean age of 74 years, 99% were White, and 97% were male. Percentage of medications known was 29% for the low health literacy group versus 49% (marginal) and 56% (adequate), p < .001. Known medication purposes were lower in the lower health literacy group (49% vs. 71% vs. 74%; p < .001). Health literacy was not associated with medication adherence: the low health literacy group took 84% of medications by label instructions compared with 80% (marginal) and 77% (adequate), p = .14; or with adverse drug events at 1 year (48% vs. 33% vs. 40%; p = .30). Patients with lower health literacy have poorer medication knowledge but not lower adherence or increased adverse drug events.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Association of Health Literacy With Medication Knowledge, Adherence, and Adverse Drug Events Among Elderly Veterans
- Creators
- Hilary J Mosher - Department of Internal Medicine , University of Iowa Carver College of MedicineBrian C Lund - Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical CenterSunil Kripalani - Department of Medicine , Vanderbilt UniversityPeter J Kaboli - Iowa City Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of health communication, Vol.17(sup3), pp.241-251
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Group
- DOI
- 10.1080/10810730.2012.712611
- PMID
- 23030573
- ISSN
- 1081-0730
- eISSN
- 1087-0415
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 10/01/2012
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094382102771
Metrics
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