Stankunas M, Soares JFJ, Viitasara E, Melchiorre MG, Sundin Ö, Torres-Gonzales F, Stankuniene A, Avery M, Ioannidi-Kapolou E, Barros H, Lindert J. Factors associated with refraining from buying prescribed medications among older people in Europe.
Australas J Ageing 2013;
33:E25-30. [PMID:
24521077 DOI:
10.1111/ajag.12075]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM
To evaluate the associations between refraining from buying prescribed medications and selected factors among older persons.
METHODS
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?'
RESULTS
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).
CONCLUSIONS
The study found that refraining from buying prescription medications is a problem among older people and identified a number of factors associated with this.
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