Factors Associated with Medication Adherence Among Persons in Permanent Supportive Housing

Purpose: Nonadherence to medication is associated with poor health outcomes, worsening of disease and frequent hospitalization. People living in permanent supportive housing (PSH) may be at greater risk of medication nonadherence because of a history of chronic homelessness, increased prevalence of mental disorders and other vulnerabilities. Understanding factors associated with medication nonadherence in this vulnerable population may help alleviate an important deficiency in their life and advance them towards stability. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of medication adherence among PSH residents and to identify factors associated with low medication adherence. Methods: Adult PSH residents voluntarily participated in the mobile community health assistance for tenant (m.chat) project during 2014-2017 in Fort Worth, Texas. The Morisky medication adherence scale was used to classify participants as having low, medium or high adherence to medication. Self-reported data on demographic variables, alcohol consumption, quality of life, substance use, and depression were collected. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with participants’ levels of medication adherence. Results: A total of 598 participants were included in the sample. The prevalence of low, medium and high medication adherence were 54.5%, 29.9%, and 15.6%, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, binge drinking (p-value=0.001), quality of life (p-value Conclusion: A majority of PSH residents were in the low medication adherence category. To better address the issue of medication noncompliance, intervention programs may want to target PSH residents who have depression, binge drinking habit, and have a poor quality of life.