Date
Spring 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Department
College of Nursing
First Advisor
Dr. Monique Jones
Abstract
Rurality is a significant contributing factor in medication non-adherence. Rural patients face numerous barriers related to the social determinants of health, including transportation, education, and economic stability. When completing a needs assessment, it was uncovered that adherence to medication regimens for chronic illnesses is estimated to be around 50% in the United States (U.S.) and most developed countries. It is noted that 20%-30% of new prescriptions are never filled. Medication nonadherence is the cause of approximately 125,000 deaths in the U.S. annually (Li et al., 2025). It is estimated that as high as two-thirds of medication-related hospital admissions are due to nonadherence (Pruitt, 2025). This raises the question of whether rurality affects the rate of medication nonadherence. This project has the potential to significantly improve the health outcomes of rural residents. It is essential to identify and analyze barriers to medication adherence among rural residents and address them within the target population by educating them about available community resources (Garcia et al., 2024).
Participants at a local community worship center completed pre- and post-survey questionnaires using Morisky’s Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) to evaluate how rurality influences medication adherence. After the pre-survey, participants received tailored education on community resources and medication management, and the intervention was assessed for its ability to sustain improvements in adherence behaviors among rural residents. An effective initiative for this high-risk population must be comprehensive, covering all aspects of medication adherence and health education; personalized to the specific needs and challenges of the rural community; and integrated into subject education, ensuring it becomes part of their daily lives (Larsen et al., 2022
Recommended Citation
James, Changa, "The Impact of Rurality on Medication Adherence and Patient Health" (2026). Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects. 6.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/updnp/6
Rights
Copyright is maintained by author and professor named.