A Comparison of Medication Managemnt Between Older and Younger Adults Living with HIV

The aims of this study were to examine whether there are differences in medication management between older and younger adults living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and to explore the relationship between age and personal factors including cognitive ability, depression and self-efficacy on medication management. The research utilized a descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design to compare medication management between older and younger adults living with HIV and to describe differences in predictive factors of cognition, depression, and self-efficacy on medication management ability between older and younger adults living with HIV. Results indicate both older and younger adults have high rates of mild cognitive impairment, high rates of depression, and high self-efficacy, and both groups have poor medication management ability. In both older and younger adults cognitive ability and depression were predictors of medication management, and each factor was a much stronger predictor for older adults. Overall cognitive ability was the best predictor of medication management for both older and younger adults. This research contributes to nursing knowledge in that it helps to identify predictive factors impacting medication management in older and younger adults living with HIV. The older adult with HIV demographic is one of the fastest growing segments of persons with HIV, and these individuals have been under represented in previous research. Determining which factors predict medication management, and what is unique about these factors in the older population of people living with HIV will contribute to nurses’ and other healthcare workers’ ability to care for this growing population.