Objective  To assess the applicability of a medication adherence questionnaire developed by Chinese researchers (MAQ-C) and the Eight-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) in measuring self-reported medication adherence among the elderly hypertensives and to provide references for selection of medication adherence scale in clinical practice and scientific research.

  Methods  Using typical sampling, we conducted face-to-face interviews among 1 085 hypertension patients aged 60 years and above in 3 communities and 2 corps farms in Shihezi municipality of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) from April to September, 2017. Both the MMAS-8-Chinese Version and the MAQ-C were used to collect information on medication adherence of the patients.

  Results  Among all the participants, 497 and 364 were assessed as adherence and non-adherence to medication with both the MAQ-C and MMAS-8; the concordance rate for the assessment results of the two instruments was 79%. The medication adherence rate assessed with the MAQ-C was significantly higher than that with the MMAS-8 (63.8% vs. 48.5%, χ² = 416.739; P < 0.001). When assessed with the MAQ-C, relatively higher ratios of non-adherence were detected on two inquiry items for having the medication according the frequency and dose prescribed by a doctor (26.7% and 23.6%); whereas, when assessed with the MMAS-8, the two inquiry items with relatively higher non-adherence ratio were not forgetting taking medicine anytime and every time (32.4% and 20.7%).

  Conclusion  Medication adherence of the elderly hypertension patients in Shihezi region of Xinjiang was generally good. Both the MAQ-C and MMAS-8 could be used to measure medication adherence in elderly hypertensive patients, but the MMAS-8 scale is better for assessing hindering factors of medication adherence in elderly patients.