The Relationship Between Self‑efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use and General Health of the Retired Elderly Referred to Retirement Centers in Guilan Province, Iran in 2021

Abstract

Background: General health and medication adherence is important to improve quality of life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between self‑efficacy for appropriate medication use and general health of the retired elderly. Materials and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional descriptive and analytic study conducted on 112 elderly referred to retirement centers in east of Guilan in North of Iran by random sampling method. Data were collected using a self‑efficacy for appropriate medication use scale in the elderly, a general health questionnaire, and a personal information form. Data were analyzed by nonparametric tests and Spearman coefficient using SPSS software version 16 (SPSS software version 16, IBM company, Chicago, USA). Results: The results showed that most of the elderly had good general health levels (64%) and high self‑efficacy for appropriate medication use (83%). Self‑efficacy for appropriate medication use was associated with general health (p < 0.05) and with increasing self‑efficacy score for appropriate medication use by one unit, the odds of being healthy increased by 23%. Conclusions: Based on results the higher the self‑efficacy score, the lower the general health score.