Factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence in the elderly patients with chronic kidney disease

Context: 

One of the main factors related to health literacy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is medication adherence.

The present study aimed to investigate the factors associated with health literacy and medication adherence in older adults with CKD referring to Imam Khomeini Amol Nephrology Clinic in 2018. Setting and Design: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2018 in Imam Khomeini Amol Nephrology Clinic.

This study was performed on 150 elderly CKD patients aged above 60 years. Sampling was done using available sampling method and with the anticipation of confounders. Demographic information, elderly health literacy, and medication adherence were assessed using a questionnaire and interview. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were described with mean, standard deviation, and frequency and analyzed using Chi-square tests.

The results showed that the age of the participants was 64.3 ± 3.89 years, and 40% of the elderly had an inadequate health literacy, 39.3% had insufficient health literacy, 20.7% had insufficient health literacy, and excellent health literacy was observed in none of the patients. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between health literacy and medication adherence (P < 0.05). Chi-square test showed that the higher the health literacy, the more the medication adherence.

According to the results of the study on the low level of health literacy and its direct relationship with medication adherence, it can be said that more attention of nurses is needed to promote and follow drug adherence by educating patients with low levels of health literacy to prevent the progression of the disease and convert drug therapy to dialysis.