Workplace Social Capital and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication: A Cohort Study
2011

Workplace Social Capital and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medication

Sample size: 3515 publication 10 minutes Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Oksanen Tuula, Kawachi Ichiro, Kouvonen Anne, Suzuki Etsuji, Takao Soshi, Sjösten Noora, Virtanen Marianna, Pentti Jaana, Vahtera Jussi, Kivimäki Mika

Primary Institution: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

Hypothesis

Workplace social capital may influence adherence to antihypertensive medication among hypertensive employees.

Conclusion

The study found no consistent evidence to support the effect of workplace social capital on adherence to drug therapy among employees with chronic hypertension.

Supporting Evidence

  • 78% of participants had no days-not-treated according to the Drug Prescription Register.
  • Each 5-year increase in age reduced the rate of days-not-treated by 14%.
  • Obesity and the presence of somatic co-morbidities were associated with better adherence.

Takeaway

The study looked at whether having good relationships at work helps people remember to take their blood pressure medicine, but it found that it doesn't really make a difference.

Methodology

The study linked survey responses to pharmacy records for a cohort of hypertensive employees and analyzed adherence using negative binomial regression models.

Potential Biases

Potential for misclassification of adherence due to reliance on pharmacy records.

Limitations

The study only assessed workplace social capital at baseline and did not account for changes over time.

Participant Demographics

Mean age 53.9 years, 76% women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.95

Confidence Interval

0.58–1.56

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0024732

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