Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Meaning of Medication and Medication Adherence in Mature African American Kinship Caregivers
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Pharmacy, Health Sciences & Exercise Science
Start Date
11-4-2014 8:30 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 10:00 AM
Sponsor
Priscilla Ryder (Butler University)
Description
Background: Mature African Americans are more likely than other races to provide full-time care for their grandchildren. Most of these caregivers are over 40 years old, and many have chronic medical conditions requiring medication. They may also be in poorer health than people who are not caregivers. Low medication adherence can contribute to worse health outcomes for people with chronic medical conditions, and has been shown to be greater in African Americans compared to Caucasians. Patients' beliefs about medications and their communication with their healthcare providers have been shown to affect medication adherence. Medication non-adherence is expected to increase in the US as the population ages and as patients take more medications. The objective of this study was to assess the perceived importance of medication and factors affecting medication adherence in mature African American kinship caregivers.
Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants 40 years and older who had full-time care of one or more children of relatives. Each participant was identified by a unique identification number and filled out a brief questionnaire on demographic and health conditions. Questions on participants' beliefs about medication, perceptions of patient-provider communication about medication and other barriers or facilitators to medication adherence were asked. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed independently by two trained researchers. These researchers met to establish consistent codes for themes.
Significance: We anticipate that themes will emerge that describe participants understanding on the importance of their medications but also acknowledging other equally important competing needs. Negligence of their own health to care for their children should also be a common theme. Participants are expected to have positive views about pharmacist, although few may think about pharmacists as a health resource.
Meaning of Medication and Medication Adherence in Mature African American Kinship Caregivers
Indianapolis, IN
Background: Mature African Americans are more likely than other races to provide full-time care for their grandchildren. Most of these caregivers are over 40 years old, and many have chronic medical conditions requiring medication. They may also be in poorer health than people who are not caregivers. Low medication adherence can contribute to worse health outcomes for people with chronic medical conditions, and has been shown to be greater in African Americans compared to Caucasians. Patients' beliefs about medications and their communication with their healthcare providers have been shown to affect medication adherence. Medication non-adherence is expected to increase in the US as the population ages and as patients take more medications. The objective of this study was to assess the perceived importance of medication and factors affecting medication adherence in mature African American kinship caregivers.
Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants 40 years and older who had full-time care of one or more children of relatives. Each participant was identified by a unique identification number and filled out a brief questionnaire on demographic and health conditions. Questions on participants' beliefs about medication, perceptions of patient-provider communication about medication and other barriers or facilitators to medication adherence were asked. Audio-recordings of the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed independently by two trained researchers. These researchers met to establish consistent codes for themes.
Significance: We anticipate that themes will emerge that describe participants understanding on the importance of their medications but also acknowledging other equally important competing needs. Negligence of their own health to care for their children should also be a common theme. Participants are expected to have positive views about pharmacist, although few may think about pharmacists as a health resource.