ABSTRACT
Objective
To evaluate the association between the biopsychosocial aspects and the adherence to the therapeutic medication of elderly integrated into the home-based long-term care teams.
Methods
A cross-sectional, quantitative study, with a sample of 198 eldery. Interviews took place between May 2012 and May 2013 in Portugal. For therapeutic characterization, the data were collected using two questionnaires and one interview. Data analysis made with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results and the Chi-Square test to evaluate the association between variables.
Results
It was observed that 49% of the elderly do not adhere to the therapeutic medication and the level of adherence showed a statistically significant association with nutritional status (p = 0.002), instrumental autonomy (p = 0.030) and social isolation (p = 0.046).
Conclusions
Due to the multiplicity of aspects involved in adherence, it is suggested that they be considered in the nursing interventions that promote therapeutic control measures.
Medication adherence; Elderly; Home health nursing