Predictors of medication adherence in an urban Latino community with healthcare disparities.

Ethnic disparities exist when comparing glycemic control: Latino patients have suboptimal glycemic control as compared to non-Latino whites. A key factor to achieving optimal diabetes management and control is medication adherence. We conducted a nested, cross-sectional retrospective study of data (n = 61) collected from a larger parallel, randomized, longitudinal study conducted at an urban primary care practice examining a culturally tailored community-based peer counselor intervention. Baseline demographic and medication utilization covariates were evaluated for eligibility into the multivariate logistic regression to predict medication adherence. Significant correlates of medication adherence were physician or healthcare team support (OR 12.79, 95% CI 1.04, 157.21), and increasing numbers of medications taken (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04, 1.48). Receipt of government benefits was associated with medication non-adherence (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01, 0.51). Modifiable factors such as the number of medications and the patient-healthcare team relationship appear to play a role in medication adherence.