Medication Adherence in Chronically Ill Rural, Geriatric Populations in Kansas

Abstract

Medication adherence and lack of education can result in drastic physical outcomes such as hospitalization. Increasing awareness of this issue could prolong the mental and physical health of older adults. Bettering the way in which this population cares for themselves within their own homes can provoke multiple positive outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine if intervening with medication education can increase older adults medication adherence capability within the rural Kansas setting. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 participants. This was a quality improvement project utilizing a pretest/posttest design. The setting took place in rural Kansas at the local primary care clinic, Lyons Medical Center in Lyons, Kansas. It is the only clinic in the city and it serves the large geriatric population residing in Rice County. There are approximately eight nurses and four providers providing primary care. Participants were limited to males and females, age 65 years and older who live in a rural area, receive their primary medical care at Lyons Medical Center, and have two or more chronic illnesses. Participants were chosen by the medical center providers. Participants were instructed to take the pretest first and foremost, then completed two weeks of medication logs, checking off the box as they took the medications. After the two weeks of logging medications were completed, they then filled out the posttest. The data collection showed a greater confidence in medication adherence through the results of the Seams pretest and posttest, after the participants logged their medications. All participants logged their medications correctly as well.