Medication-Related Burden among Patients with Chronic Disease Conditions: Perspectives of Patients Attending Non-Communicable Disease Clinics in a Primary Healthcare Setting in Qatar.

Amani Zidan,Dianne Candy Rose Figueroa,Ahmed Awisu,Samya Ahmad Al-Abdulla,Maguy Saffouh El-Hajj,Nadir Kheir

doi:10.3390/pharmacy6030085

Abstract

This study aimed to assess perceived medication-related burden among patients with multiple non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to investigate the association between perceived burden and adherence to medication therapy. Using a cross-sectional study in three primary care clinics in Qatar, medication-related burden was measured using the Living with Medicines Questionnaire (LMQ) among adults with diabetes, with or without other comorbidities. Adherence was measured using the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS). Two hundred and ninety-three eligible patients participated in the study. The majority of them reported experiencing minimal (66.8%) to moderate (24.1%) medication-related burden. There was a significant positive correlation between the scores of the LMQ (medication-related burden) and ARMS (medication adherence), rs (253) = 0.317, p < 0.0005.

Highlights

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with an increasing prevalence of morbidity and mortality globally [1]
This study aims to assess the burden that is resulting from the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) conditions in Qatar and its impact on medication adherence
After excluding forms with incomplete or invalid data, a total of 293 participants were included in the analysis

Summary

Introduction

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with an increasing prevalence of morbidity and mortality globally [1]. Despite concerted global efforts aimed at reducing the burden of these diseases [2,3,4], the main focus of healthcare systems and clinical practice guidelines in general is to achieve and maintain clinical therapeutic goals for single conditions when managing chronic illnesses [5,6,7]. This type of fragmented care approach would lead to diminished quality of life among people with multimorbidities [7]. Polypharmacy, defined as the use of multiple medications [9], could be perceived as an unavoidable consequence of the advancement in the treatment strategies of today’s aging population [9,10,11]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion