Women and men report different behaviours in, and reasons for medication non-adherence: a nationwide Swedish survey

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to analyse gender differences in self-reported non-adherence (NA) to prescribed medication in the Swedish general population. We aimed to study unintentional and intentional NA as well as the reasons given for NA.MethodsA questionnaire was mailed to a cross-sectional, random, national sample of people aged 18-84 years in Sweden (n=7985). The response rate was 61.1% (n=4875). The questionnaire covered use of prescription drugs, NA behaviour and reasons for NA.ResultsUse of prescription drugs was reported by 59.5% (n=2802) of the participants, and 66.4% (n=1860) of these participants did not adhere to the prescribed regimen. No overall gender differences in reporting NA were found. However, when analysing the various types of NA behaviour and the reasons for NA, different gender patterns emerged. Men were more likely to report forgetting [OR=0.77 (95%CI 0.65:0.92)], changing the dosage [OR=0.64 (95%CI 0.52:0.79)] and that they had recovered [14.3%, (OR=0.71 (95%CI 0.56:0.90)] as a reason. In contrast, more women than men reported filling the prescription but not taking the drug [OR=1.25 (95%CI 1.02:1.54)] and reported the development of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) [OR=1.89 (95%CI 1.37:2.59)] as a reason more commonly. The gender differences remained, in most cases, after controlling for confounders such as age, socioeconomic factors, medical problems and attitudes toward drugs.ConclusionsWomen and men have different patterns of NA behaviour and different reasons for NA. Therefore, if adherence is to be improved, a wide knowledge of all the reasons for NA is required, along with an understanding of the impact of gender on the outcomes.

Risk factors for cost-related medication non-adherence among older patients with cancer

“…This is consistent with the previous finding in the cancer patients and in general population [10,17]. It is less clear if this is in part due to that women are more price sensitive to out-of-pocket payment for medication, have different perception of the effectiveness of medication, or differential level of health literacy.…”

The influence of symptoms of anxiety and depression on medication nonadherence and its causes: a population based survey of prescription drug users in Sweden

“…Men and women have different health behaviors21 and also different attitudes toward drugs22,23 and have in previous studies been found to have different NA behaviors and different reasons for NA 1,2,4. As regards men and women with anxiety and/or depression, knowledge about the effects of sex on adherence is lacking.…”

“…Up to 50%–60% of all patients show poor medication adherence and NA is considered the most common reason for treatment failure 1,2. NA can be either unintentional (eg, forgetting to take the medication) or intentional (a more active decision that can involve changing the dosage or not taking the drug at all) 3,4. Health care professionals worldwide are asking why patients do not take the drugs as prescribed, despite the perception that the treatment is offered in consensus with the patient.…”

“…In order to improve adherence, it is necessary to understand the reasons behind NA. Previous studies have shown that adherence is affected by sociodemographic (eg, age and sex) and socioeconomic factors, the patient’s attitude towards drugs, their relationship with the health care professional, patient characteristics, the prescribing of complicated dosage regimens, and the development of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) 1,2,4,6–8. Moreover, psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression, which affect cognitive function and health behavior, also influence adherence 9.…”

Exploring Medication Adherence Using M-Health: A Study from Veterinary Medicine

“…The gender and age of owners were not related to medication adherence in this sample. The published literature shows that women are, in general, more adherent than men [18,19], and that having a caregiver does not necessarily improve medication adherence [20]. Although the sample had a mean age below 40 years, the lack of association between adherence and owners' age might suggest an opportunity to use m-health apps independently from the age of the caregiver.…”