| dc.description.abstract | Poor medication compliance can result in reduced therapeutic benefits and a need
for additional medical services (Putnam et al., 1984). The American Association
of Retired Persons (1984) estimates that older adults consume an average of 3 or
more medications daily. Poor medication compliance in elderly adults may be
due to a decline in cognitive abilities (Park & Kidder, 1996). The present study
was conducted to detemriine if poor medication compliance among elderly adults
is associated with declining cognitive abilities. Older adults were contrasted with
young adults on (a) their ability to adhere to a complex, pseudo-medication
regimen for 4 weeks, and (b) subjective ratings of their medication compliance.
Growth curve analyses revealed no group differences in self-reported compliance
or change in self-reported ratings over time. Older adults demonstrated better
medication compliance, as well as greater improvement in compliance over the 4
weeks. The results suggest that healthy older adults can successfully adhere to a
complex medication regimen. Thus, other factors besides cognitive ability may
be implicated in poor medication compliance by elderly adults. | |
