Fatalism tendency and health beliefs about medication use in older adults: A predictive correlational design

•Inappropriate use of medications was found to be predictors of both fatalism tendency and health beliefs about medication use.•Nurses should be aware of the older adults’ health beliefs about medicine use to prevent adverse effects of medications, and improve rational use of medications.•Nurses could consider and assess the fatalistic tendency in planning interventions for medication use in older adults. This study was performed to investigate fatalism tendency and health beliefs about medication use and to identify predisposing factors of these variables among older adults. A predictive correlational design was used. The study was completed with 500 older adults. A personal information form, the Fatalism Tendency Scale, and the Drug Use Health Beliefs Scale were used to collect data. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was performed for data analysis. Fatalism tendency was found to be high in older adults who used medications prescribed by the physician in different ways, used the medications more than the recommended amount, and used medications at random intervals. Older adults who used over-the-counter medications and discontinued the medications before the due date had lower health beliefs about conscious and prescription medication use. The study concluded that characteristics regarding medication use predicted both fatalism tendencies and medication use health beliefs. Health perception was found to be one of the predisposing factors of medication use health beliefs, whereas education level was another predictive factor of fatalism tendency.