Abstract
BackgroundNon-adherence to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in increased risk of relapse, rehospitalization and suicide, and increased costs to healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia at Ayder Referral Hospital and Mekelle Hospital in Mekelle, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional survey in which sociodemographic characteristics, drug attitudes, insight and side effects were measured and explored in terms of their relationship with medication adherence. A structured questionnaire as a data collection tool was used. Data were analyzed with the help of SPSS Version 20.0.ResultsA total of 393 patients participated, 26.5% were non-adherent to their antipsychotic medication. The factors significantly associated with better adherence were positive treatment attitudes (AOR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.55), fewer side effects (AOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94, 0.99), awareness of illness (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.85) and the ability to relabel symptoms (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.07). However, khat chewers (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.68), being illiterate (AOR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.47) and older age group (AOR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16) were associated with less medication adherence.ConclusionsA high prevalence of medication non-adherence was found among patients with schizophrenia. Intervention strategies focused on educating the patients to better understand the illness, medications and their potential side effects might be useful in improving adherence to antipsychotic medication treatment.
Highlights
Antipsychotic medication adherence plays a key role in patients with schizophrenia, and regular treatment has been proven to ameliorate symptoms and reduce relapse rates [1]
A high prevalence of medication non-adherence was found among patients with schizophrenia
Intervention strategies focused on educating the patients to better understand the illness, medications and their potential side effects might be useful in improving adherence to antipsychotic medication treatment
Summary
Antipsychotic medication adherence plays a key role in patients with schizophrenia, and regular treatment has been proven to ameliorate symptoms and reduce relapse rates [1]. A comprehensive review [3] reported that the rate of medication non-adherence in patients with schizophrenia is as high as 40%–50%. Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in consequences to patients, society and healthcare systems. A systematic review [7] checked suicide rates out because of non-adherence and reported a trend where non-adherence to medication treatment was associated with a significant increase in the risk of suicide. Non-adherence to medication can lead to relapse, which can mean more visits to the emergency room, rehospitalizations and increased need for clinician intervention—all of which lead to increased costs to healthcare systems [7,8]. Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in increased risk of relapse, rehospitalization and suicide, and increased costs to healthcare systems. The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia at Ayder Referral Hospital and Mekelle Hospital in Mekelle, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia
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