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Comparing medication adherence tools scores and number of controlled diseases among low literacy patients discharged from a Brazilian cardiology ward

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Abstract

Background Adherence to prescribed drug therapy is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular causes of death. In view of the relevance for public health, it is important to understand the relation between medication adherence tools’ scores, especially in low literacy patients discharged from a cardiology ward. Objectives We aimed to assess: (a) the association between number of controlled clinical conditions and adherence tools scores, and (b) the correlation between the scores of three instruments to assess adherence. Methods We conducted a prospective study and included patients discharged from a specialized cardiovascular ward in Brazil. The results of the Beliefs about Medicines questionnaire (BMQ), the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS) and the MedTake test were compared. Results Of 53 included patients, most of them were elderly, and did not complete primary school. On average, there were six health conditions per patient, where two of them were not controlled. ARMS was the only tool that was associated with number of controlled health conditions (r = −0.312, p < 0.05). Moreover, ARMS (average score 15.6 ± 3.4) had significant correlation with MEDTAKE (r = 0.535, p < 0.01) and BMQ (r = 0.38, p < 0.01). BMQ and MEDTAKE were also positively correlated (r = 0.311, p < 0.05). Conclusions Clinically, higher ARMS scores (>12) suggest assumed non-adherence. It is also negatively correlated with the number of controlled clinical conditions in low literacy elderlies with cardiovascular diseases.

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Acknowledgments

This study had the indispensable work of residents from Hospital de Clínicas/UFPR. Professors, MSc and Ph.D. candidates from the Pharmaceutical Sciences Post Graduate Program were also responsible for the success of the current outpatient services. By the time the study was conducted, PCBO, LMO and BOCP received monthly scholarships from the Brazilian Ministry of Education as resident pharmacists from Hospital de Clínicas/UFPR (Programa de Residência Integrada Multiprofissional em Atenção Hospitalar).

Funding

PBCO, LMO, WCTR, RRG and TST are financially supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Pharmacy Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, 2350 Ramiro Barcelos St, Porto Alegre, 90035-903, Brazil

    Patrícia Carvalho Baruel Okumura & Lucas Miyake Okumura

  2. Pharmaceutical Sciences Post-graduation Program, Universidade Federal do Paraná, 632 Prefeito Lothário Meissner Avenue, Curitiba, 80210-170, Brazil

    Wálleri Christini Torelli Reis, Rangel Ray Godoy, Thais Teles de Souza, Maria Luiza Drechsel Fávero & Cassyano Januário Correr

  3. Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná, 181 Gen. Carneiro St., Curitiba, 80060-900, Brazil

    Bianca de Oliveira Cata-Preta

Authors
  1. Patrícia Carvalho Baruel Okumura
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  2. Lucas Miyake Okumura
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  3. Wálleri Christini Torelli Reis
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  4. Rangel Ray Godoy
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  5. Bianca de Oliveira Cata-Preta
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  6. Thais Teles de Souza
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  7. Maria Luiza Drechsel Fávero
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  8. Cassyano Januário Correr
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Correspondence to Patrícia Carvalho Baruel Okumura.

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Baruel Okumura, P.C., Okumura, L.M., Reis, W.C.T. et al. Comparing medication adherence tools scores and number of controlled diseases among low literacy patients discharged from a Brazilian cardiology ward. Int J Clin Pharm 38, 1362–1366 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-016-0390-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-016-0390-6

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