Most disabled people have poor health status. They often have multiple diseases requiring continual medication. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with medication adherence among disabled people, with a particular focus on the factors associated with family and primary health care support. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 226 disabled individuals. The analysis was performed using an ordered logistic regression model, including 4 categories of predictor variables. We found that the community health service center played a positive role in improving medication adherence, whereas the role played by the participant's family was more complicated. Specifically, those obtaining a brochure were more likely to have higher medication adherence (odds ratio [OR] = 2.732, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.349-5.532). Compared with those who were married, widowed participants (OR = 0.207, 95% CI = 0.069-0.620) and divorced participants (OR = 0.330, 95% CI = 0.057-1.914) had lower odds of having greater adherence, whereas the odds of having greater adherence for single participants were 1.679 times the same odds for married participants (OR = 1.679, 95% CI = 0.668-4.224). The odds of having greater medication adherence for participants receiving help with prescriptions from a family member were almost 60% lower than these odds for those who did not receive this kind of help (OR = 0.460, 95% CI = 0.216-0.979). Thus, the role played by participants' family members was both protective and damaging, whereas the role of the community health service center was clearer. These findings merit further exploration.
Keywords: community health service center; disabled people; family support; medication adherence; primary health care.