Influence of the Use of Medicinal Plants on the Level of Medication Adherence in the Elderly

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Many elderly patients take them arbitrarily under the assumption that medicinal plants are without side effects and risks. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the history of medicinal plant consumption and the medication adherence level in the elderly. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, elderly people aged 60 years and older with chronic diseases were included in the study using the available sampling method. For data collection, a three-part questionnaire of demographic information, history of medicinal plant consumption, and medication adherence tool were used. Data were analyzed with SPSS23 statistical software and using statistical tests of one-way analysis of variance, independent t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression. Based on the findings, the amount of history of using herbal medicine with the knowledge of the doctor was 41.4% (148 people), and without the knowledge of the doctor was 27.3% (98 people) in the last year. The average medication adherence in the elderly who used medicinal plants (both groups with and without the doctor's knowledge) was lower compared to the group that had no history of using herbal medicine (P=0.001). Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between the number and frequency of using medicinal plants and the duration of chronic disease with the level of medication adherence (P<0.05). Considering the high consumption of medicinal plants by the elderly with chronic diseases and its relationship with low medication compliance, it is necessary to educate the elderly about the following: the correct way to use medicinal plants and their side effects, drug-herb interactions, the required to inform the doctor about the utilize of medicinal plants, and the need to follow the medication.