Family caregivers’ perspectives on medication adherence challenges in older people with dementia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: To achieve a better understanding of medication non-adherence determinants in older people with dementia from caregivers’ perspectives and possible management solutions to improve medication adherence.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers of older people with dementia living in the community. Data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s method.

Findings: Four themes emerged: dementia symptoms influence medication adherence, medication increases caregiver burden, lack of self-efficacy, medication aids and technology to enhance medication adherence. Caregivers’ lack of knowledge reduces their self-efficacy in managing medications and increases their burden of care. The majority of caregivers used technology and welcomed its use to assist them with their role.

Conclusion: Caregivers require knowledge and support such as a multifaceted technology based intervention to assist with medication adherence.

Keywords:

• Dementia
• medication adherence
• caregiver
• technology

Acknowledgements

The research team gratefully acknowledges the help and support of the following agencies: Dementia Australia (Qld), Caregivers (Victoria, Qld), and CHAIN Network. Caregivers who participated in the phone interviews are also acknowledged for the useful information they provided.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Najwan El-Saifi is funded through an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.