Understanding Medication Self-Management Capacity among Older Adults Living in Low-Income Housing Communities

Understanding Medication Self-Management Capacity among Older Adults Living in Low-Income Housing Communities ABSTRACT Background: Medication self-management capacity (MMC) is an individual’s cognitive and functional ability to self-administer a medication regimen as prescribed. Poor MMC is an issue in older adults often resulting in negative health outcomes and loss of independence. Therefore, understanding low-income older adults’ capacity to manage their medications may help identify individuals who are at risk for developing medication mismanagement and guide future intervention strategies based on an individual need to promote safe medication use and healthy aging in place in the community. Objectives: 1) To determine the cognitive and physical functional deficiencies in MMC among low-income older adults, 2) To identify variables that predict deficiencies in MMC in this population, 3) To determine the impact of using pharmaceutical aids/services on MMC, and 4) To examine the association between MMC and emergency room (ER) visits. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of older adult residents living in low-income housing buildings served by the RHWP. At a study interview, information on demographics, medical history, and medication use was collected. MMC was evaluated using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) tool. Cognitive and functional status, health literacy and depression symptoms were assessed. ER visits were determined retrospectively over the last six months Descriptive analyses were performed to identify cognitive and physical functional deficiencies in MMC. Linear regression analysis was conducted to identify variables that predict MMC and assess the relationship between MMC and using pharmaceutical aid/service. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between ER visits and MMC. Results: A total of 107 participants were included, and 89% were African-American with an average age of 68.54 years (±7.23). They had an average of 4.92 (±2.85) comorbidities and used approximately 8 (±4.12) medications on a regular basis. The mean total deficiency in medication management was 3 (±2.00) as assessed by MedMaIDE. Lacking medication knowledge was common among the participants: 69.16% could not name and 46% state the indication of all of their medications, and 38.32% did not how and when all of their medications should be taken. When controlling for ADLs and falls, the mean total deficiency score in MedMaIDE increased among those with an educational level equal to high school or less compared with participants who had a higher educational level than high school [β=1.32, 1.24, p= 0.0195, 0.0415, respectively], and participants who reported difficulty reading prescription medication labels or opening medication bottles compared with those who did not report any difficulties [β=1.18, 1.43, p= 0.0036, 0.0047, respectively]. About 20.56% of participants were receiving assistance with medications from someone, and 79.44% used at least one pharmaceutical aid/service. However, receiving assistance with medications and using pharmaceutical aid/service were not significantly associated with MMC [p= 0.5334, 0.0853, respectively]. The participants reported a total of 23 (21.5%) ER visits within six months. The adjusted model for age, educational level, number of comorbidities, and ADLs suggested that for every one-unit increase in the total deficiency score, the odds of ER visits increased by 1.23 (p=0.1809) times. Conclusion: Many older adults who lived in low-income housing had impaired capacity to manage their medications independently. They appeared to have inadequate medication knowledge, which affects their cognitive ability to manage medications. Low educational level and health literacy and reporting trouble reading labels or opening medication bottles were predictors to deficient MMC. Future studies are needed to confirm whether or not MMC predicts those who may not able to remain living independently safely or who may need additional support with medications to remain independent