The influence of beliefs and health literacy on medication-related outcomes in older adults: A cross-sectional study

Background: Older adults often manage multiple chronic diseases which necessitates the use of multiple medicines. Nevertheless, they also face an elevated risk of harm when medicines are used inappropriately. Studies indicate that socioeconomic disadvantage, beliefs, and health literacy may correlate with non-adherence and inappropriate medicine use. However, older adults are underrepresented in the current body of literature. Objective: To investigate the influence of beliefs and health literacy on medication-related outcomes in older adults. Methods: Participants ≥65 years living in the community were invited to complete a survey. Participants were asked to report demographics, medicines and complete three questionnaires: Self-Efficacy for Appropriate Medication use Scale (SEAMS), Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) and Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Descriptive statistics, regressions and correlations were calculated. Results: A total of 154 participants were included in the analysis (35.7 % male, age range 65–110 y). Mean SEAMS score was 33.2 out of 39 (standard deviation (SD) = 8.0), reflecting high self-efficacy for adherence. Mean HLQ scores were high across the four scales measured in the survey (scales 1, 5, 6, and 9). Sixty-two participants (44.0 %) were using five or more medicines (polypharmacy) and 18 (15.4 %) reported use of a potentially inappropriate medicine. Regarding beliefs, mean BMQ-specific scores were as follows: necessity score 17.5 (SD = 5.1) and concern score 12.0 (SD = 4.0), indicating strong beliefs in the necessity of medicines and few concerns. Results of the regression analysis indicated that where the BMQ-Necessity scores were employed as the independent variable, there was statistical significance with polypharmacy (p < 0.001). Additionally, moderate positive correlations were identified between (1) necessity beliefs and both polypharmacy (r = 0.401, p < 0.001) and adherence (r = 0.477, p < 0.001), and (2) adherence and HLQ scale 5 (r = 0.343, p < 0.001), scale 6 (r = 0.326, p < 0.001) and scale 9 (r = 0.320, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Older adults who perceive their medicines as necessary are more inclined to report use of multiple medicines, leading to polypharmacy. Additionally, older adults with stronger beliefs in the necessity of medicines and higher levels of health literacy demonstrate greater self-efficacy for adherence. Health professionals should consider evaluating necessity beliefs in older adults to manage potential non-adherence, reduce the risk of polypharmacy, and thereby mitigate the risk of suboptimal medicine use.