Table 3.
Factors associated with non-adherence (N=1746)
| Independent variables | N (%) all | N (%) non-adherent | OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI) a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | ||||
| 16–24 | 157 (9.0%) | 82 (52.2%) | 1 | 1 |
| 25–34 | 221 (12.7%) | 100 (45.2%) | 0.71 [0.46–1.11] | 0.64 [0.35, 1.19] |
| 35–44 | 234 (13.4%) | 82 (35.0%) | 0.42 [0.27–0.65] | 0.39 [0.21, 0.73] |
| 45–54 | 331 (19.0%) | 77 (23.3%) | 0.26 [0.17–0.40] | 0.39 [0.22, 0.71] |
| 55–64 | 319 (18.3%) | 29 (9.1%) | 0.07 [0.04–0.13] | 0.15 [0.07, 0.30] |
| 65+ | 484 (27.7%) | 24 (5.0%) | 0.04 [0.02–0.07] | 0.14 [0.07, 0.31] |
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 794 (45.5%) | 226 (28.5%) | 1 | 1 |
| Female | 949 (54.4%) | 167 (17.6%) | 0.53 [0.41–0.68] | 0.60 [0.43, 0.85] |
| Unknown | 3 (0.2%) | 1 (33.3%) | 1.33 [0.11–15.60] | 1.93 [0.88, 4.25] |
| Ethnicity | ||||
| White | 1529 (87.6%) | 303 (19.8%) | 1 | 1 |
| Black, Asian and minority ethnic populations | 148 (8.5%) | 65 (43.9%) | 3.63 [2.47–5.34] | 1.14 [0.71, 1.82] |
| Unknown | 69 (4.0%) | 26 (37.7%) | 3.70 [2.09–6.53] | 1.61 [0.79, 3.30] |
| Region | ||||
| Scotland | 170 (9.7%) | 38 (22.4%) | 1.59 [0.86–2.95] | 1.93 [0.88, 4.25] |
| North East | 56 (3.2%) | 10 (17.9%) | 1.08 [0.43–2.68] | 1.10 [0.46, 2.64] |
| Yorkshire/Humber | 140 (8.0%) | 29 (20.7%) | 1.33 [0.69–2.56] | 1.58 [0.74, 3.40] |
| North West | 234 (13.4%) | 70 (29.9%) | 2.13 [1.20–3.77] | 1.75 [0.91, 3.36] |
| East Midlands | 130 (7.4%) | 27 (20.8%) | 1.32 [0.68–2.56] | 1.16 [0.53, 2.54] |
| West Midlands | 123 (7.0%) | 22 (17.9%) | 1.13 [0.57–2.25] | 0.86 [0.39, 1.94] |
| South East | 228 (13.1%) | 46 (20.2%) | 1.19 [0.65–2.17] | 1.39 [0.66, 2.91] |
| East of England | 203 (11.6%) | 43 (21.2%) | 1.37 [0.75–2.52] | 1.52 [0.73, 3.13] |
| Greater London | 171 (9.8%) | 52 (30.4%) | 2.28 [1.26–4.15] | 1.48 [0.71, 3.08] |
| Wales | 162 (9.3%) | 24 (14.8%) | 1 | 1 |
| West | 98 (5.6%) | 21 (21.4%) | 1.25 [0.62–2.53] | 1.35 [0.58, 3.14] |
| Northern Ireland | 31 (1.8%) | 12 (38.7%) | 4.28 [1.66–11.08] | 2.28 [0.79, 6.60] |
| Socioeconomic group b | ||||
| 1 | 203 (11.6%) | 44 (21.7%) | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 248 (14.2%) | 57 (23.0%) | 1.09 [0.67–1.75] | 1.37 [0.75, 2.49] |
| 3 | 453 (25.9%) | 96 (21.2%) | 0.96 [0.62–1.48] | 1.26 [0.73, 2.16] |
| 4 | 395 (22.6%) | 102 (25.8%) | 1.20 [0.78–1.85] | 1.43 [0.83, 2.47] |
| 5 | 110 (6.3%) | 48 (43.6%) | 2.88 [1.69–4.93] | 2.49 [1.22, 5.09] |
| Student | 26 (1.5%) | 9 (34.6%) | 1.83 [0.73–4.56] | 0.51 [0.15, 1.71] |
| Retired | 120 (6.9%) | 4 (3.3%) | 0.15 [0.05–0.45] | 0.78 [0.19, 3.25] |
| Unemployed | 191 (10.9%) | 34 (17.8%) | 0.73 [0.43–1.24] | 1.07 [0.50, 2.32] |
| Index of multiple deprivation | ||||
| Q1 most deprived | 530 (30.4%) | 123 (23.2%) | 1 | 1 |
| Q2 | 294 (16.8%) | 71 (24.1%) | 0.91 [0.63–1.33] | 1.02 [0.63, 1.65] |
| Q3 | 251 (14.4%) | 56 (22.3%) | 0.93 [0.62–1.40] | 1.06 [0.65, 1.75] |
| Q4 | 250 (14.3%) | 55 (22.0%) | 0.81 [0.55–1.20] | 1.40 [0.86, 2.31] |
| Q5 least deprived | 230 (13.2%) | 39 (17.0%) | 0.51 [0.33–0.78] | 0.81 [0.47, 1.41] |
| Unknown | 191 (10.9%) | 50 (26.2%) | 1.06 [0.70–1.61] | 0.87 [0.51, 1.50] |
| Working | 863 (49.4%) | 291 (33.7%) | 4.65 [3.54–6.11] | 1.81 [1.17, 2.81] |
| Household size | ||||
| 1 person | 388 (22.2%) | 51 (13.1%) | 1 | 1 |
| 2 persons | 687 (39.3%) | 94 (13.7%) | 1.22 [0.81–1.83] | 1.18 [0.73, 1.92] |
| 3+ with children | 428 (24.5%) | 195 (45.6%) | 6.40 [4.33–9.48] | 1.25 [0.77, 2.05] |
| 3+ without children | 243 (13.9%) | 54 (22.2%) | 2.13 [1.33–3.40] | 1.08 [0.62, 1.87] |
| Factors associated with COVID-19 | ||||
| Shielded | 385 (22.1%) | 130 (33.8%) | 2.10 [1.59–2.78] | 0.78 [0.51, 1.18] |
| Positive COVID-19 test | 152 (8.7%) | 74 (48.7%) | 3.91 [2.67–5.73] | 0.91 [0.56, 1.45] |
| Factors related to access to medicine | ||||
| Times with no access to a medicine | 0.2 (0.8) | 0.6 (1.3) | 2.80 [1.53–5.11] | 1.50 [1.18, 1.89] |
| Times non-prescription medicines were used as substitutes | 3.3 (2.6) | 3.8 (2.4) | 1.11 [1.06–1.16] | 1.04 [0.98, 1.12] |
| Times immediate supply from pharmacy was required | 1.6 (1.4) | 2.6 (2.0) | 2.03 [1.78–2.30] | 1.38 [1.22, 1.57] |
| Exempt from prescription fee | 299 (17.1%) | 71 (23.7%) | 0.52 [0.40–0.67] | 1.11 [0.72, 1.72] |
| Suitable public transport available? | 1295 (74.2%) | 307 (23.7%) | 1.35 [1.00–1.82] | 0.78 [0.52, 1.17] |
| Help taking medicines at home? | 273 (15.6%) | 7 (18.4%) | 4.63 [3.42–6.27] | 1.32 [0.85, 2.06] |
| Use of digital tools to support medicines management | ||||
| Yes, to order or as reminder to take medicines c | 525 (30.1%) | 203 (38.7%) | 1.76 [1.56–1.98] | 1.37 [0.99, 1.88] |
| Drug/LTC-related factors | ||||
| Number of medicines | 2.4 (1.9) | 2.0 (1.8) | 0.82 [0.72–0.92] | 0.91 [0.79, 1.04] |
| Number of LTCs newly diagnosed since March 2020 | 0.4 (0.9) | 0.8 (1.2) | 2.17 [1.78–2.65] | 1.16 [0.94, 1.43] |
| Number of drugs newly prescribed since March 2020 | 0.6 (1.2) | 0.9 (1.3) | 1.31 [1.19–1.45] | 1.07 [0.90, 1.28] |
| At least one cardiovascular medicine | 605 (34.7%) | 61 (10.1%) | 0.24 [0.17–0.33] | 0.60 [0.38, 0.95] |
| At least one respiratory medicine | 309 (17.7%) | 54 (17.5%) | 0.70 [0.49–0.99] | 0.63 [0.39, 1.00] |
| Analgesics for migraine | 514 (29.4%) | 151 (29.4%) | 1.71 [1.32–2.23] | 1.25 [0.77, 2.03] |
| Insulin | 186 (10.7%) | 16 (8.6%) | 0.27 [0.15–0.49] | 0.49 [0.24, 1.01] |
| Thyroid and antithyroid medicines | 116 (6.6%) | 9 (7.8%) | 0.28 [0.13–0.60] | 0.32 [0.11, 0.93] |
| At least one medicine used in rheumatic disease and gout | 23 (1.3%) | 2 (3.0%) | 0.13 [0.03–0.55] | 0.10 [0.02, 0.48] |
| At least on anxiolytic or hypnotic medicine | 50 (2.9%) | 24 (48.0%) | 3.62 [1.98–6.63] | 2.13 [0.96, 4.70] |
aOdds ratio adjusted for age, gender ethnicity, region, socioeconomic group, IMD, work status, household size, new LTCs, number of medicines, exemption from prescription fee, suitable public transport, help taking medicines at home, use of digital tools by type, shielding status, positive COVID-19 test, CV-medicine, respiratory medicine, analgesic, insulin, thyroid medicine, medicine for rheumatic disease or gout [significance indicated in bold]; b 1: semi or unskilled manual worker, 2: skilled manual worker, 3: supervisory or junior managerial or professional or administrator, 4: intermediate managerial or professional or administrative, 5: higher managerial or professional or administrative; c Use of digital tools reported for question 15 “How did you order your prescription at your GP the last time you renewed your prescription?” and question 26 “Did you use any apps or digital tools to support you to take your medicine?”