Latent profiles and associated factors of medication literacy in older adult patients with chronic diseases

TL;DR

This study identifies four distinct medication literacy profiles among older adults with chronic diseases and finds factors like age and education influence these profiles.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel classification of medication literacy profiles and their associated factors in older adults with chronic diseases.

Findings

Medication literacy among older adults with chronic diseases is moderate and heterogeneous.

Four medication literacy profiles were identified: comprehensive deficiency, communication strength, balanced development, and knowledge proficiency.

Age, education, income, and self-efficacy significantly influence medication literacy profiles.

Abstract

With the global burden of chronic diseases and the acceleration of population aging, medication literacy is crucial for self-management among older adult patients. However, the potential patterns of medication literacy remain understudied, leaving us unable to clearly categorize medication literacy among older adult patients with different characteristics.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Medication Literacy of older adult patients with chronic diseases. Specifically, it aims to examine the current status of Medication Literacy in this population; to analyze distinct patterns of Medication Literacy and their relationship with chronic disease self-efficacy; and to explore the factors influencing these different patterns.

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the convenience sampling method. Chronic disease patients admitted to the geriatrics department of a tertiary-level hospital in Deyang City, China were recruited between January and June 2025, with a final sample size of 316 participants. A general information questionnaire, a medication literacy scale for older adult patients with chronic diseases, and a chronic disease self-efficacy scale were used to conduct the survey. Latent profiles of medication literacy among these patients were identified using Mplus 8.3. Logistic regression was employed using SPSS23.0 to analyse the factors influencing different categories of medication literacy.

Finally, 316 older adult patients with chronic diseases were included. Older adult patients with chronic diseases had a total medication literacy median score 70.50 (IQR: 50.00, 89.00) and a total disease self-efficacy median score 47.00 (IQR: 38.00, 52.00). Medication literacy of older adult patients with chronic diseases can be classified into four potential categories: comprehensive deficiency type (16.8%), communication strength type (28.8%),balanced development type(29.7%), and knowledge proficiency type(24.7%). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, education, personal monthly income, and chronic disease self-efficacy were associated factors of medication literacy in older adult patients with chronic diseases (all p < 0.05).

Overall, medication literacy among older adult patients with chronic diseases is at a moderate level and shows heterogeneity. Future prospective studies should test hypotheses such as: To address this, healthcare professionals should prioritize patients falling into the comprehensive-deficiency and communication-strength types, developing tailored interventions to enhance their competencies based on these distinct characteristics.

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