Abstract
BackgroundBetter insight and knowledge on factors associated with perception of medication numbers and amounts would contribute greatly to our current understanding of patient psychological response regarding taking medications, and would allow us to improve drug administration support and adherence. This study explored associations between attitudes toward medication dosage in a questionnaire survey that examined demographic characteristics, the number of tablets and types of prescription medications considered excessive by participants, current medication and supplement use, personal experiences with medications, and perceptions surrounding medications.MethodsAn original anonymous questionnaire was used for this survey. A total of 934 university students completed and returned surveys with no missing data.ResultsMean values ± standard deviation for excessive thresholds for tablets and types of medications reported by all participants were 4.21 ± 1.63 tablets and 4.00 ± 1.25 medications, respectively. The number of tablets considered excessive was analyzed using a multiple regression model, which accounted for the variance (model-adjusted R2 = 0.095, p < 0.001) between statistically significant factors, including personal experience with a major illness, supplement use, aversion to taking medications, gender, university departmental affiliation, and experience with family members or acquaintances who took excessive amounts of medications (|beta| > 0.094, p < 0.01). The number of medications considered excessive was subject to a multiple regression analysis (model-adjusted R2 = 0.087 p < 0.01), which revealed statistically significant factors, including personal experience with a major illness, prescription medication use, aversion to taking medications, gender, university departmental affiliation, and experience with family members or acquaintances who took excessive amounts of medications (|beta| > 0.084, p < 0.01).ConclusionsIndividual attitudes toward medication dosage are influenced by individual factors. Thus, patients should be provided with personalized advice when they receive medication instructions.
Highlights
Better insight and knowledge on factors associated with perception of medication numbers and amounts would contribute greatly to our current understanding of patient psychological response regarding taking medications, and would allow us to improve drug administration support and adherence
The questionnaire used in this study examined how personal background factors, perception of drugs, and general attitude about taking medications were associated with the number of tablets/types of medications which would be considered excessive for self-use by the participants themselves
The questionnaire survey comprised questions related to participant background information; items related to taking medications including history of side effects from medications and routine usage of medications and supplements; items related to participant perception of medications including the level of trust, sense of danger, and sense of aversion toward drugs; items related to attitudes and perception of taking medications; and the number of tablets/types of medications that would be considered excessive for self-administration in one sitting (‘excessive threshold’)
Summary
Better insight and knowledge on factors associated with perception of medication numbers and amounts would contribute greatly to our current understanding of patient psychological response regarding taking medications, and would allow us to improve drug administration support and adherence. This study explored associations between attitudes toward medication dosage in a questionnaire survey that examined demographic characteristics, the number of tablets and types of prescription medications considered excessive by participants, current medication and supplement use, personal experiences with medications, and perceptions surrounding medications. One factor associated with the levels of drug compliance and adherence among patients is the number of pills and medications that are prescribed. One study queried patients receiving treatment for lifestyle diseases, and asked them if they would consider it beneficial if their prescribed number of types of medication decreased by even one. Of the patients taking the same number of medications, some responded that they strongly agreed, while some did not agree at all [5], revealing a high variability in patient perception of the number of medications
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