Medication complexity and nonadherence are significant risk factors for avoidable hospitalizations and health care spending for older adults in the United States. However, limited empirical research has investigated pharmacist-run telephonic medication management programs as a potential solution to the problem of reducing medication complexity while improving medication adherence. This quantitative study employed the behavioral change model to analyze archival data from a sample of 1,148 participants, examining the relationship of a pharmacist-run telephonic consulting program on medication adherence and medication complexity for one pharmacy benefit management firm's Medicare Part D recipients. The primary research questions investigated the relationship of medication therapy management programs to medication adherence and complexity. Data were assessed using correlation and regression analysis to determine the association between receiving pharmacist counseling, medication adherence, and medication complexity, and to assess the strength of any relationships identified. No linear relationship was found between pharmacists' counseling, medication complexity, and medication adherence. However, the study found a weak correlation between medication complexity and comorbidities, and between medication complexity and medication adherence. This study promotes positive social change by identifying information that can be used to reduce pharmaceutical industry liability by improving proper management of medications, by reducing the burden of comorbidities related to poor management of chronic disease, and streamlining health services and improving their outcom.
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