Prescription medication nonadherence associated with food insecurity: a population-based cross-sectional study

September 25, 2019

Household food insecurity, the inadequate access to food due to financial constraints, affects 4 million Canadians and is closely linked to poor health.

Almost half of adults who report not following drug prescriptions because of the cost are food insecure. The more severe their household food insecurity is, the greater the probability that adults will fail to take medications as prescribed because of the cost.

This may lead to worsening health and greater use of health care services. Measures to reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications, while not a solution to household food insecurity, could improve food-insecure adults’ adherence to drug prescriptions.

Access this journal article at:
Men, F., Gundersen, C., Urquia, M. L., & Tarasuk, V. (2019). Prescription medication nonadherence associated with food insecurity: a population-based cross-sectional study. Canadian Medical Association Open Access Journal, 7(3), E590-E597.