Patient-Related Factors Influencing Drug Non-Compliance among Hypertensive Patients in Selected State Hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Drug non-compliance for some time has remained a major health-related issue among chronic diseases, especially among hypertensive patients. Drug non-compliance in middle and low-income countries including Nigeria is attributed to many factors but aggravated by economic recession. There have not been sufficient studies, particularly theory-based, which explored drug non-compliance among hypertensive patients at the secondary health facilities. Understanding major factors that could influence drug non-compliance is a key step in controlling hypertension. Thus, this study aims to explore patient-related factors influencing drug non-compliance among hypertensive patients in selected state hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted quantitative and qualitative research designs using descriptive surveys and Key Informant Interviews (KII) with a sample size of 349 participants among patients with hypertension in cardiac outpatient clinics of the selected general hospitals. Responses were also collected from purposively selected healthcare providers through oral interviews and their responses were analyzed qualitatively. Survey data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0. The study revealed that both old and young patients are ignorant of the disease thus, they tend to forget their drug prescriptions. The study further discovered that poverty and inability to procure their drugs regularly often make them turn to unorthodox medicine, and these were responsible for drug non-compliance. The study recommended that government and healthcare-providing institutions should intensify efforts to educate patients on drug compliance so as to prevent complications resulting from drug non-compliance.