This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to understand the characteristics of medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses, and to investigate the average effect size by combining the individual effects of these interventions. Data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically collected in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The results showed that the average effect size (Hedges’ g) of the finally selected medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses calculated using a random-effects model was 0.500 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.342−0.659). Of the medication adherence interventions, an implementation intention intervention (using face-to-face meetings and telephone monitoring with personalized behavioral strategies) and a health belief model–based educational program were found to be highly effective. Face-to-face counseling was a significantly effective method of implementing medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses (Hedges’ g=0.531, 95% CI, 0.186−0.877), while medication adherence interventions through education and telehealth counseling were not effective. This study verified the effectiveness of personalized behavioral change strategies and cognitive behavioral therapy based on the health belief model, as well as face-to-face meetings, as medication adherence interventions for older adults with chronic illnesses.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Impact of telemedicine on chronic disease patients: An overview of systematic reviews Kun Zhang, Yanhua Chen, Peicheng Wang, Yanrong He, Yanrong Du, Hailun Liang, Weiguo Zhu, Xiao Long, Leiyu Shi, Jiming Zhu Intelligent Medicine.2026; 6(2): 226. CrossRef
Updating Interventions to Enhance Medication Adherence among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Chronic Diseases Luu Thi Thuy, Nguyen Thi Yen Hoai, Diep Thi Tieu Mai Home Healthcare Now.2026; 44(1): 40. CrossRef
Treatment Adherence and Persistence of Anti-Fibrotic Drugs in Real Life in Greece Georgia Kourlaba, Stylianos Ravanidis, Garyfallia Stefanou, Konstantinos Mathioudakis, Anastasios Tsolakidis, Dimitrios Zografopoulos Advances in Respiratory Medicine.2026; 94(1): 6. CrossRef
Reasons for delayed medical treatment among cholelithiasis patients: a qualitative study based on the health belief model Min Jiang, Yajie Shi, Jiao Liu, Yan Liu, Yanzhang Tian, Fang He BMC Health Services Research.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Can We Predict Older Adults’ Long-Term Healthy Behavior Maintenance? Identifying the Optimal Machine Learning Model HeSen Li, WeiCheng Pan, Hong Chen, YiZhuo Hou International Journal of Human–Computer Interactio.2026; 42(20): 17782. CrossRef
Medication adherence trajectories and association with risk factors and clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes treatment Sara Mucherino, Valentina Orlando, Marcia Vervloet, Yvette Weesie, Liset van Dijk, Enrica Menditto, Yee Gary Ang PLOS One.2026; 21(2): e0342056. CrossRef
Designing age-friendly interfaces and wearable–environment integrations to enhance medication adherence: a discrete choice experiment among older adults Jialin Qin, Zeyu Wu, Hao Zhang, Xiaopan Qi Frontiers in Medicine.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Psychosocial predictors of non-adherence to antihypertensive medication among Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study Kunhee Han, Hwa Sun Kim, Young Lee, Chung-woo Lee, Muhammad Haroon Stanikzai PLOS One.2026; 21(3): e0345509. CrossRef
Nurse-led interventions in enhancing outcomes for patients with tuberculosis: a scoping review Nita Arisanti Yulanda, Hidayat Arifin, Titan Ligita, Lestari Makmuriana, Alfi Syahri, Susanti Susanti, Komang Ardidhana Nugraha Putra, Andri Setiya Wahyudi, Somsak Thojampa, Tintin Sukartini Journal of Research in Nursing.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Bedside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques in Primary Care Meredith L.C. Williamson, Danielle L. Terry, Kaylee J. Jackson Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice.2026; 53(2): 251. CrossRef
Mobile health apps for older adults: real-world evidence on engagement and medication adherence Elyssa Wiecek, Scott Taylor, Hugo Rourke, Fiona Hammond, Noelia Amador-Fernandez Frontiers in Digital Health.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Medication adherence in older adults with chronic diseases: a scoping review of barriers, facilitators, and effective interventions Doris Cardona-Arango, Valeria Santacruz-Restrepo, Alejandra Rendón-Montoya, Juliana Madrigal-Cadavid, Alejandra Segura-Cardona, Jorge Iván Estrada-Acevedo Frontiers in Aging.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
A pilot feasibility study of a tablet-based virtual community application with shared avatars for promoting health behavior change in older adult care facilities Kenji Nakamura, Keiichi Yamazaki, Akiko Yamazaki, Yoshiaki Ohyama Frontiers in Digital Health.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Chrono-modulated drug delivery systems for oncology: Mechanisms, translational evidence, and pharmaceutical innovations Santoshini Nayak, Rajat Kumar Kar, Prasanta Kumar Biswal, Ranjit Prasad Swain, Snehamayee Mohapatra Chronobiology International.2026; 43(11): 1728. CrossRef
Medication Adherence Interventions for Older Adults: A National Mixed‐Methods Study of Implementation Across Italian Healthcare Settings Sara Mucherino, Luca Pasina, Manuela Casula, Monia Donati, Carlotta Lunghi, Elena Olmastroni, Valentina Orlando, Emanuel Raschi, Stefano Scotti, Marco Salluzzo, Elisabetta Poluzzi, Alessandro Nobili, Enrica Menditto Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Yaşlılarda ilaç uyumunun geliştirilmesine yönelik stratejiler Soner Mete, Kamuran Özdil Mersin Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi.2026; 19(2): 415. CrossRef
Confronting finitude and treatment adherence in older adults with chronic diseases: a qualitative study Leovaldo Alcântara, Luís Midão, Elísio Costa, Constança Paúl BMC Geriatrics.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Adherencia terapéutica en pacientes con hipertensión arterial en segundo nivel de atención Vidal Marcelino Villanueva Pérez, Daniel Canaán Pérez, Diego Sánchez Rodríguez REDSA Revista Ecuatoriana de Desarrollo Social y A.2026; 1(3): 268. CrossRef
Medication adherence in older people: Predictors and strategies for improvement Vladimir Petković, Jelena Horvat, Svitlica Brestovački Timocki medicinski glasnik.2025; 50(1-2): 32. CrossRef
Educational intervention for mental health and health behaviors in elderly Iranian women randomized controlled trial Razieh Asadi, Mahin Nazari, Abdolrahim Asadollahi, Narges Mobasheri Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Religious, Belief Medication, and Adherence Among Elderly with Chronic Diseases: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Papua, Indonesia AZ Izzah, DA Perwitasari, ES Sinaga, FE Appa, EI Sianturi Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice.2025; 28(11): 1269. CrossRef
EXAMINING PRESCRIPTION DRUG USE AND HEALTH CARE ACCESS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN RURAL AREAS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY BASED ON THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL Yağmur ÖZKAYA, Büşra DEMİR ÇETİNKAYA, Gülden HAKVERDİ, Eyüp Can POLAT, Gülbin ÖZÇELİKAY Turkish Journal of Geriatrics.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Health Behavior Change to Mitigate Dementia Risk: An Updated Review Victoria Sanborn, Jennifer D. Davis, Laura E. Korthauer Current Geriatrics Reports.2024; 13(3): 162. CrossRef
Relationship Between Depression and Medication Adherence Among Chronic Disease Patients in the Middle East Abdulrahman O Alomar, Rakan H Khushaim, Shahad K Al-Ghanem, Abeer T Bin Jumaiah, Suhail M Albaqami, Lujain A Alleft, Eman A Abahussain Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Development and Preliminary Psychometric Testing of a Brief Tool to Measure Medication Adherence in Older Populations Paolo Iovino, Paola Obbia, Vincenzo De Luca, Clara Donnoli, Lola Patumi, Lisa Leonardini, Ernesto Palummeri, Manuela Ruatta, Anna Basso, Yari Longobucco, Laura Rasero, Giuseppe Liotta, Maddalena Illario Clinical Interventions in Aging.2024; Volume 19: 1765. CrossRef
First
Prev
