P-46 Factors associated with medication adherence among persons with hypertension in faith-based organizations in Barbados

Methods: Baseline cross-sectional data were collected within faith-based organizations in Barbados as part of a planned cluster randomized trial. Data were obtained from patients who volunteered to participate and who had a blood pressure reading >130/90 mmHg and/or previous medical history of hypertension. We used the Hill-Bone medication adherence scale (reliability(a)= 0.91) as the main outcome. Ordinal logistic regression was used to explore the relationships between medication adherence and sociodemographic factors (age, sex, employment, education and marital status).

Results: We present baseline data from 73 eligible persons. Of these, 71% were female, mean age was 59.3 years and mean systolic blood pressure 142 mmHg, 95%CI (141, 146). In this study, 42% of participants indicated that they forgot to take their medication at least some of the time, 49.1% indicated that they sometimes decide not to take their medication; 21.8% sometimes run out of medication and 29.1% do not take their medication before going to the doctor. No one reported the practice of using other people’s medications. Employment status was the only statistically significant predictor for medication adherence in the demographic model fitted, retired persons more likely to adhere than working individuals (Odds Ratio 3.69 95% CI 1.13, 12.0). 

Conclusion: The findings showed relatively low levels of medication adherence. The medication adherence deficits highlighted can be used to develop interventions and health promotion activities to increase adherence in this population.