Title : Mediating effect of medication burden on the relationship between medication literacy and medication adherence among patients with multimorbidity
Abstract:
Background: Multimorbidity has a significant impact on public health and primary care. Medication adherence is important and effective for managing and preventing multimorbidity. Studies have shown that medication literacy has a positive effect on medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity. However, the specific mechanisms mediating the relationship between medication literacy and medication adherence in them are still unclear and need further exploration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of medication burden in the association between medication literacy and medication adherence in this population.
Methods This study employed a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling method to survey patients with multimorbidity in Zhengzhou, China, from July, 2023, to January, 2024. Participants were assessed using a demographic questionnaire, the Chinese Version of the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (C-MMAS-8), Medication Literacy Questionnaire (MLQ), and the Living with Medicines Questionnaire (LMQ). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one -?way analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and medication analysis.
Results A total of 221 patients with multimorbidity participated in this study. The medication literacy score of patients with multimorbidity was (4.48±1.73). Medication adherence was (4.46±1.98), and the medication burden score was (109.91±18.43). The medication burden was the intermediary effect between medication literacy and medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity, and the effect value was 0.328, accounting for 55.6% of the total effect.
Conclusion This study might suggest that medication literacy indirectly affected medication adherence in patients with multimorbidity through medication burden, which provides a new idea of developing strategies to improve medication behavior. Focusing on the burden of multiple medication can help medical staff to better understand the confusion in patients with multimorbidity’s medication treatment, and provide effective information for improving the effect of medication and promoting physical and mental rehabilitation. In the future, Health care providers should actively innovate the intervention forms to reduce the medication burden, to improve their medication adherence, so as to promote the establishment of good medication management for patients with multimorbidity.
Audience Take Away:
- Analyzed the mechanism of medication literacy on medication adherence
- Learned that the medication burden is the mediating variable of medication literacy and medication adherence in patients multi-morbidity.
- Suggested that healthcare professionals should pay attention to the assessment of patient medication burden in their clinical work. Medical staff should recognize the significance of assessing and promoting medication literacy and implement strategies aimed at reducing medication burden,
