Research Areas

AGING

Medication Therapy Management among Older Adults

Medication therapy management (MTM) services were launched in 2006 as part of Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) to enhance older adult patient understanding of appropriate medication use, increase adherence to medication regimens, and improve the discovery of adverse drug events among the chronically ill aging population. The appointment-based medication synchronization model is a medication adherence service, which includes a comprehensive medication review appointment with a pharmacist and alignment of the patient monthly chronic medications to a predetermined single pickup date. By leveraging large Medicare, MTM claims and medication-synchronization pharmacy provider data, we evaluated how access to MTM and medication-synchronization services varies by older adult health disparity population (i.e., racial/ethnic minority, rural, and socioeconomically disadvantaged) and how SDOH barriers impact service delivery. We applied Andersen’s Behavior Model to characterize MTM and medication-synchronization service utilization and the Chronic Care model to identify positive deviant strategies for MTM delivery. Collectively this work has contributed to policy recommendations to address SDOH barriers and unintended disparities.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) older adult social determinants of health (SDOH) study

Our study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of older adults in the US diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol, and/or diabetes, focused on identifying and prioritizing Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) associated with medication adherence. In our recently published paper (sciencedirect.com) , we delve into characterizing SDOH, estimating medication adherence, and outlining implications for health disparity populations among older adults with diabetes. Notably, our findings highlight that individuals with a disability, those experiencing challenges affording balanced meals, and those who spoke English were more likely to be nonadherent to diabetes medications. These insights shed light on for pharmacists to develop targeted SDOH-centered medication adherence strategies for older patients with diabetes.

Older Adults, Deprescribing and Social Determinants of Health

Deprescribing reduces the dose, discontinues, or substitutes an equally effective and safer alternative medication under the supervision of a healthcare provider, to reduce exposure to high-risk medications such as medications causing falls among older adults. One of the primary barriers to implementing deprescribing in clinical practice is patient-specific barriers that are particular to their preference and influenced by their social determinants of health (SDOH). Our goal with this study was to examine how and to what extent select SDOH factors influence the relationship between deprescribing beliefs and behaviors among older adults. Publications are underway, so check back to see what we found!

Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center (IADRC) Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement Core (OREC) Partnership ​

We are partnering with the NIH-designated IADRC to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) disparities. The OREC serves as an educational hub for health professionals, patients, caregivers, and more. Through strategic efforts, we collaborate to bridge gaps in ADRD disparities, with a focus on outreach and recruitment in diverse and underrepresented communities, including initiatives in Black and Hispanic/Latino communities in Indianapolis. Check out a recent poster presentation of our work AAIC Poster 2023

CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions CHW Demonstration Project

Our aging research with CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions intersects with our CHW work. Check out a full description of our work with CICOA HERE

Publications

  1. Blakely M, Sherbeny F, Hastings TJ, Boyd L, Adeoye-Olatunde OA. Exploratory analysis of medication adherence and social determinants of health among older adults with diabetes. Explor. Res. Clin. Soc. Pharm. 2023 Nov;12:100371. doi: 10.1016/j.rcsop.2023.100371
  2. Waghmare PH, Huang CY, Jaynes HA, Green WM, Snyder ME, Adeoye-Olatunde OA, Coe AB, Farley JF, Zillich AJ. Disparities in Medicare beneficiaries’ receiving medication synchronization. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2023 Mar; 63(2):538-546.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.japh.2022.10.0216
  3. Adeoye-Olatunde OA, Lake LM, Strohmier CA, Gourley AK, Ray AR, Zillich AJ, Snyder ME. Positive deviants for medication therapy management: A mixed-methods comparative case study of community pharmacy practices. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2021 Aug;17(8):1407-1419. PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8079557.
  4. Coe AB, Adeoye-Olatunde OA, Pestka DL, Snyder ME, Zillich AJ, Farris KB, Farley JF. Patterns and predictors of older adult Medicare Part D beneficiaries’ receipt of medication therapy management. Res Social Adm Pharm. 2020 Sep;16(9):1208-1214. PubMed PMID: 31859225.

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