Understanding the Medication Adherence Strategies of Older Adults with Hypertension

Many older adults are living with at least one chronic disease and must adhere to prescribed medication to mitigate and control its impact. Hypertension is one chronic disease that affects a significant portion of the world’s population, especially older adults, and is responsible for a high number of annual deaths. It is asymptomatic, meaning that there are no perceptible symptoms and, as such, older adults may struggle with adhering to their prescribed antihypertensive medications. How one internalizes the disease may influence the degree of success in managing the condition. The current study analyzed archival data from a multifaceted prospective memory intervention for older adults with hypertension who were nonadherent to their medication. We coded their responses to self-management interview questions to identify the common themes regarding the knowledge and sense of control the older adults held relevant to managing their illness. Participants’ responses revealed how they internalized hypertension and their medication, as well as the strategies and goals they reportedly used to manage the illness. The association strategy was found to be the most commonly used within participants’ routines. In addition, many participants expressed a general lack of knowledge about the disease or their medication, and their goals regarding hypertension management were general and inexplicit (e.g., “to reduce their blood pressure). This information informs the design of more effective and longer-lasting interventions geared toward significantly improving the medication adherence of older adults diagnosed with hypertension.