COMMUNICATION OF DRUG AFFORDABILITY BETWEEN PHYSICIANS AND ELDERLY PATIENTS
K Tom Xu and Brian K Irons

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics among elderly patients associated with patient-provider communications regarding affordability of medications in prescribing and dispensing.

METHODS: Telephone survey data from consumers >65 years old collected in the Texas Tech 5000 Survey were used. The sample size for the analyses was 2,360. Demographics, insurance, financial factors, nonfinancial factors, prescription drug use, and health status were used to identify which subgroup of elderly patients recalled communication with their providers regarding the affordability of prescriptions. Statistical analyses included bivariate analyses and a multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS: Eleven percent of the respondents reported being asked by their physicians whether they could afford prescription drugs. In the multivariate analysis, gender, race, insurance coverage for prescriptions, income, number of physician visits, out-of-pocket expenditure for prescriptions, health, and physicians' participatory decision-making score were found to be associated with patient–provider communications regarding affordability of medications.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research needs to be conducted to identify ways to improve patient–provider relationships to facilitate communication regarding affordability of medications among elderly patients. Improved communication or sensitivity to prescription affordability has the potential to increase patient medication adherence and improve clinical outcomes.

J Pharm Technol 2003;19:271-7.