UCSF

Objective

To examine self-reported financial strain in relation to pharmacy utilization adherence data.

Data sources/study setting

Survey, administrative, and electronic medical data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Study design

Retrospective cohort design (2006, n = 7,773).

Data collection/extraction methods

We compared survey self-reports of general and medication-specific financial strain to three adherence outcomes from pharmacy records, specifying adjusted generalized linear regression models.

Principal findings

Eight percent and 9 percent reported general and medication-specific financial strain. In adjusted models, general strain was significantly associated with primary nonadherence (RR = 1.37; 95 percent CI: 1.04-1.81) and refilling late (RR = 1.34; 95 percent CI: 1.07-1.66); and medication-specific strain was associated with primary nonadherence (RR = 1.42, 95 percent CI: 1.09-1.84).

Conclusions

Simple, minimally intrusive questions could be used to identify patients at risk of poor adherence due to financial barriers.