RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Role of Gender in Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence Among Patients with Diabetes
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 743
OP 751
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2018.05.180039
VO 31
IS 5
A1 Bhuyan, Soumitra S.
A1 Shiyanbola, Olayinka
A1 Deka, Pallav
A1 Isehunwa, Oluwaseyi O.
A1 Chandak, Aastha
A1 Huang, Sean
A1 Wang, Yang
A1 Bhatt, Jay
A1 Ning, Lu
A1 Lin, Wang Jun
A1 Wyant, David
A1 Kedia, Satish
A1 Chang, Cyril F.
YR 2018
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/31/5/743.abstract
AB Objective: Under 50% of type 2 diabetic patients achieve the recommended glycemic control. One barrier to glycemic control is patients' cost-related nonadherence to medications. We hypothesize gender differences in medication nonadherence due to costs among diabetic patients.Methods: US National Health Interview Survey (2011 to 2014) data yielded 5260 males and 6188 females with diabetes for over a year. We applied 2 analytic methods (A and B below) across multiple outcome measures (1 to 4) of medication nonadherence due to cost. The key independent variable was participant's gender.Results: Across methods and measure, females consistently report significantly higher rates of medication nonadherence due to costs. Pearson's χ2 showed that female patients were more likely to (1) skip medication (13.5%–10.2%; P < .001), take less than prescribed medication (13.9%–10.5%; P < .001), delay filling prescriptions (16.8%–12.5%; P < .001), and ask doctors to prescribe lower-cost alternative medications (31.8%–28.0%; P < .001). Controlling for covariates, logistic regression models found females more likely to skip medication (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09–1.55), take less than prescribed medication (OR, 1.26; 95%, CI, 1.06–1.50), delay filling prescriptions, (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.11–1.50), and request lower-cost medication (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.32). Our results report other factors that influence medication adherence, including socioeconomic and health status variables.Conclusions: A significant gender-based disparity exists on cost-related nonadherence of medication among diabetic patients. Health care providers and policy-makers should pay close attention to find ways to address cost-related nonadherence of medication among patients with chronic illness, especially among female patients.