ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors that influence medication adherence in Chinese community-dwelling older adults with hypertension. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 382 older adults with hypertension recruited from six health centers in Macao, China. Chinese versions of the Morisky 4-Item Self-Report Measure of Medication-Taking Behavior, Fear of Intimacy with Helping Professionals scale and Exercise of Self-care Agency scale were administered to participants. RESULTS: Participants older than 65 years (ß = .118, p = .017), with a low level of education (ß = .128, p = .01), who had more than one other common disease (ß = .120, p = .015), were on long-term medication (ß = .221, p < .001) and who reported higher self-care (ß = .188, p = .001), had better medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Health care professionals should consider these factors when planning medication regimens for Chinese older adults with hypertension, to enhance medication adherence and improve patient outcomes.
