Patient Adherence to Health Care Provider Recommendations and Medication among Free Clinic Patients

Samin Panahi; Naveen Rathi; Jazmine Hurley; Justine Sundrud; Mary Lucero; Akiko Kamimura

doi:10.1177/23743735221077523

Patient Adherence to Health Care Provider Recommendations and Medication among Free Clinic Patients

J Patient Exp. 2022 Feb 9:9:23743735221077523. doi: 10.1177/23743735221077523. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Samin Panahi¹, Naveen Rathi², Jazmine Hurley³, Justine Sundrud⁴, Mary Lucero⁴, Akiko Kamimura¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sociology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
² School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
³ School of Social Work, Boston College, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Maliheh Free Clinic, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Abstract

Patient adherence is vital for the quality of health care outcomes and treatment efficacy, and reduces the economic burden on the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with levels of general adherence among uninsured free clinic patients. This was a cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of free clinic patients aged 18 years and older who spoke English and/or Spanish. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression were performed to understand sociodemographic characteristics and factors associated with higher levels of general adherence. A higher level of general adherence were significantly associated with younger age (P < .01), levels of adherence to lifestyle recommendations (P < .01), and medication (P < .01). Having attended health education classes and having a primary care provider were not associated with levels of general adherence.This study suggested that a lower level of general adherence exists among elderly patients of the free clinic. In this light, providers need to consider unique strategies to enhance the provider-patient relationship by understanding patient's characteristics and providing sufficient information and explanation for treatment and medication.

Keywords: free clinics; health outcome; patient adherence; uninsured patients.