Poor medication adherence is a fundamental, unsolved obstacle preventing the """"""""real-world"""""""" translation of clinical trial findings that have been shown to reduce diabetes-related complications in older adults. To realize these health benefits in clinical settings, we need interventions that lead to sustainable improvements in medication adherence. The use of mail-order pharmacies may represent such an approach, that overcomes financial and logistical barriers to medication acquisition and leads to improved medication adherence by older adults. The proposed career development award has 3 specific aims: 1) to evaluate whether the use of mail- order pharmacies as compared with local pharmacies is associated with greater adherence to diabetes-related medications (oral antiglycemics, antihypertensives, and HMGCoA reductase inhibitors (""""""""statins"""""""");a higher proportion of generic as compared to brand name diabetes-related medications;and lower out-of-pocket medication costs among Medicare Part D enrollees;2) to develop low-literacy intervention materials intended to increase mail-order pharmacy use among low-income Part D enrollees and test them in a feasibility trial, and 3) to develop additional quantitative and qualitative research skills necessary to succeed as an independent investigator conducting translational research. Dr. Duru will work closely with his research mentors including Dr. Carol Mangione, the Principal Investigator of the UCLA Resource Center for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR), to conduct the proposed research. As part of the proposed career development plan, Dr. Duru will acquire skills in the use of statistical techniques, including instrumental variable analyses, to maximize causal inference in studies using observational data. He will apply these techniques in the analyses described in Specific Aim #1. He will also develop expertise in the area of healthcare implementation in real-world settings, and apply this in the activities described in Specific Aim #2. This proposed K award will provide Dr. Duru with the training and skills needed to become an independent investigator, conducting intervention research that results in tangible improvements in the health of vulnerable older adults.

Public Health Relevance

In this study we will evaluate whether Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes are more likely to consistently take their medications if they receive them through the mail as compared to at a local pharmacy. We will also develop and test educational and enrollment materials to help low-income Medicare beneficiaries successfully sign up for medication delivery by mail.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08AG033630-02
Application #
7939884
Study Section
National Institute on Aging Initial Review Group (NIA)
Program Officer
King, Jonathan W
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2011-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$121,230
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
092530369
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
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Barnes, Andrew J; Xu, Haiyong; Tseng, Chi-Hong et al. (2016) The Effect of a Patient-Provider Educational Intervention to Reduce At-Risk Drinking on Changes in Health and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults: The Project SHARE Study. J Subst Abuse Treat 60:14-20
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Ettner, Susan L; Xu, Haiyong; Duru, O Kenrik et al. (2014) The effect of an educational intervention on alcohol consumption, at-risk drinking, and health care utilization in older adults: the Project SHARE study. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 75:447-57
Yala, Stella M; Duru, Obidiugwu Kenrik; Ettner, Susan L et al. (2014) Patterns of prescription drug expenditures and medication adherence among medicare part D beneficiaries with and without the low-income supplement. BMC Health Serv Res 14:665
Duru, O Kenrik; Edgington, Sarah; Mangione, Carol et al. (2014) Association of Medicare Part D low-income cost subsidy program enrollment with increased fill adherence to clopidogrel after coronary stent placement. Pharmacotherapy 34:1230-8
Duru, O Kenrik; Ettner, Susan L; Turk, Norman et al. (2014) Potential savings associated with drug substitution in Medicare Part D: the Translating Research into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) study. J Gen Intern Med 29:230-6
Schmittdiel, Julie A; Karter, Andrew J; Dyer, Wendy T et al. (2013) Safety and effectiveness of mail order pharmacy use in diabetes. Am J Manag Care 19:882-7

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