RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Primary Medication Adherence in a Rural Population: The Role of the Patient-Physician Relationship and Satisfaction with Care
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 478
OP 486
DO 10.3122/jabfm.19.5.478
VO 19
IS 5
A1 Thomas H. Wroth
A1 Donald E. Pathman
YR 2006
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/19/5/478.abstract
AB Introduction: Although correlates of overall medication adherence have been studied, little is known about primary medication non-adherence—patients’ failing to fill a prescription provided by a practitioner—and whether it relates to how patients view their physician, satisfaction with their care, and how easy or hard it is for them to travel for care.Methods: This study uses telephone survey data from adults in 150 rural counties in 8 southeastern states. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to identify factors associated with adults’ self-reports of delaying or not filling prescriptions.Results: Of the 3926 respondents who had received care in the previous year, 894 (21.6%) reported that they had delayed or did not fill a prescription over that time. In multivariate analysis, delaying or not filling prescriptions was more common among respondents who were under age 65, African American, reported incomes less than $25,000, and reported fair or poor health. Non-adherence was also more common among patients who reported transportation problems, a lack of confidence in their doctor’s ability to help them, a lack of satisfaction with the concern shown them by their physicians, and a lack of satisfaction with how welcome and comfortable they are made to feel by office staff.Conclusions: Prescription primary non-adherence is prevalent in the rural South. Adherence may be improved by remedying patient dissatisfaction and lack of confidence in their physicians as well as addressing transportation barriers.