Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Armstrong, Karen Andrea Author's Email Address kawa171@bellsouth.net URN etd-08202007-161830 Title The Relationship of Health Literacy and Locus of Control to Medication Compliance in Older African Americans. Degree Master of Arts Department Gerontology Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Patricia Clark Committee Chair Elisabeth Burgess Committee Member Molly Perkins Committee Member Keywords
- Health Literacy
- Functional health literacy
- Medication compliance
- noncompliance
- Health locus of control
Date of Defense 2007-07-16 Availability unrestricted Abstract ABSTRACTMany older African American adults have inadequate health literacy and are more likely to have chronic illnesses needing medication therapy. African Americans continue to experience significant health disparities in the incidences of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It was postulated that ethnic disparities in medication compliance are related to a dynamic interplay between low health literacy and health locus of control. Thirty older African Americans taking at least one prescription medication were interviewed. Although the vast majority was well-educated, only 53% displayed adequate health literacy. Most of the participants believed they controlled their health, and over half were noncompliant with their medications. Poor health literacy and health locus of control appeared to influence medication compliance in older African Americans.
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