Factors associated with refraining from buying prescribed medications among older people in Europe. (3rd September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stankunas, Mindaugas; Soares, Joaquim FJ; Viitasara, Eija; Melchiorre, Maria Gabriella; Sundin, Örjan; Torres‐Gonzales, Francisco; Stankuniene, Aurima; Avery, Mark; Ioannidi‐Kapolou, Elisabeth; Barros, Henrique; Lindert, Jutta
• Is Part Of: Australasian journal on ageing. Volume 33:Number 4(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: E25
• Page End: E30
• Publication Date: 2013-09-03
• Subjects: Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Australia -- Periodicals; Old age -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1440-6381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajag12075-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To evaluate the associations between refraining from buying prescribed medications and selected factors among older persons.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12075-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A total of 4467 people aged 60–84 years from seven European countries answered a questionnaire (response rate 45.2%). Refraining from buying prescribed medications was measured with the question: 'Have you ever refrained from buying prescribed medication and care?'</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12075-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>About 11.9% of older people refrained from buying prescribed medications. The multiple regression analysis showed that ages 60–64 (odds ratio (OR) = 2.08; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.38–3.13) and 65–69 (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.16–2.57) years, experience of financial strain (OR = 1.59; 95%CI: 1.27–2.01), as well as exposure to abuse (OR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.31–2.06) when taking into account country of participant were independently associated with refraining from buying medications, while an opposite association was observed for being male (OR = 0.72; 95%CI: 0.58–0.91).</p> </sec> <sec id="ajag12075-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The study found that refraining from buying prescription medications is a problem among older people and identified a number of factors associated with this.</p> </sec> </abstract>