Factors Influencing Medication Non-Adherence among Chinese Older Adults with Diabetes Mellitus

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of medication non-adherence among older adults with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Shandong province, China and to identify its influencing factors. Methods: A sample of 1002 older adults aged 60 or above with DM was analyzed. Medication adherence was measured using the Morisky-Green-Levine (MGL) Medication Adherence Scale. Descriptive statistical analysis, chi-square test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed. Results: The prevalence of self-reported medication non-adherence among older adults with DM was 19.9%. Female respondents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.09-2.24) and respondents who perceived medication adherence to be unimportant (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.05-2.74) were more likely to experience medication non-adherence. Respondents with 5 years of disease duration or longer were less likely (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.46-0.87) to experience medication non-adherence. Conclusions: This study showed that about one out of five older adults with DM in Shandong province, China, experienced medication non-adherence, and that gender, disease duration and perceived importance of medication adherence were associated with medication non-adherence in this population group. Provision of counseling and health education programs could be the future priority to raise patients' awareness of the importance of medication adherence and improve patients' self-management of DM.