Influence Medication Adherence Research Articles

Medication adherence for people with acquired communication disorders: A systematic review.

Conditions such as stroke, dementia and neurodegeneration are major contributors to the incidence of acquired communication disorders in Europe. Pharmacological interventions play a central role in the management and treatment of these conditions, though many patients with an acquired communication disorder may be at a higher risk of medication non-adherence than their peers. The objectives of the current review were to identify, in the context of people with acquired communication disorders: factors that influence medication adherence; current interventions targeting medication adherence; and current measures of medication adherence. This study was conducted and reported in accordance with both PRISMA and SWiM guidelines. Two authors independently screened the results of a literature search, assessed risk of bias and extracted relevant data. Eight studies were identified for inclusion. The results of this review indicate that patient-related factors are most indicative of medication non-adherence in a population with acquired communication disorders, followed by socioeconomic factors and medication-related factors. Despite the recognized importance of medication adherence, no gold standard of assessment or intervention currently exists for this population. Half of the included studies replaced patients with communication difficulties with caregiver proxies, thus reducing opportunities for patients to have agency over their own healthcare. The term "acquired communication disorders" encompasses a range of conditions with diverse aetiologies, presentations and needs, and future research should be tailored to specific patient groups most at risk of medication non-adherence, namely those with aphasia and cognitive-communication impairments. Patients should be empowered to participate in future research to ensure the literature accurately represents their lived experience.

Does the type of pharmacy used influence medication adherence? A retrospective observational study in Aotearoa, New Zealand

Background: Community pharmacies in New Zealand have varying ownership and operational structures. Unlike independent pharmacies, corporate and hybrid pharmacies do not charge prescription copayments. Objectives: This research aimed to determine whether people receiving free prescriptions from corporate and hybrid pharmacies (via copayment waiver) have greater medication adherence than the users of independent pharmacies. Methods: A nationwide, retrospective, observational study linked 1 year of dispensing data (1/05/2022 to 30/04/2023) from the Pharmaceutical Collection to patient enrollment data using a National Health Index number to identify demographics of different pharmacy-type users. People were assigned to a particular type of pharmacy if they collected at least 70% of their prescriptions from there; if they did not meet this threshold, they were defined as mixed users. People were classified as adherent if dispensing data showed they collected their supply of medication to cover at least 80% of the study period. Results: The sample captured 218,080 people taking at least 1 diabetes medication, with a total of 360,079 unique medications being included in the analysis. The majority, 156,893, used independent pharmacies. The type of pharmacy used was shown to be a significant predictor of adherence. Corporate and hybrid pharmacy users were 0.90 (95% CI 0.88 to 0.93) and 0.93 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.96) times as likely be adherent than the users of independent pharmacies. Mail order pharmacy users were the most likely to be adherent, whereas mixed pharmacy users were the least likely to be adherent. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prescription copayments provided by corporate and hybrid pharmacies are not the most significant barrier to medication adherence. Further research may identify more efficient ways of improving medication adherence than removing prescription copayments for all.

Determinants of medication adherence among elderly with high blood pressure living in deprived areas.

The current study was conducted to determine the impact of health literacy and factors related to adherence to drug treatment, using the model proposed by the World Health Organization, in older adults with hypertension residing in informal settlements in Hamadan. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 405 patients in Hamadan city, located in the western part of Iran. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire that included the 5-dimensional model proposed by the World Health Organization, Health Literacy for Iranian Adults, and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. A two-stage sampling procedure was used to select patients from 14 comprehensive health service centers and health bases. The data were analyzed using SPSS v.24. The study found that medication adherence was suboptimal in 63% of the participants. Additionally, 87.5% of patients had inadequate or insufficient health literacy. Factors related to medication adherence included age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.07), annual income (OR = 0.17), duration of hypertension (OR = 7.33), health literacy (OR = 1.03), self-reported health status (P < 0.05), and regular medication use (P < 0.008). The results of this study indicate that more than half of the older adults in the study had suboptimal medication adherence and insufficient health literacy. The study also found that various factors, such as socioeconomic status, disease and treatment-related factors, and patient-related factors, influence medication adherence among older adults.

Antidepressant adherence among outpatients with major depressive disorder

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a global mental health concern, with treatment often involving antidepressant (AD) medications. However, adherence to these medications remains a significant challenge. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing medication adherence among individuals with MDD in Erbil, Iraq. This study was conducted at Erbil Psychiatric Hospital, a leading mental healthcare facility in Erbil city. Participants aged 18 to 65, diagnosed with MDD as per the DSM-5 criteria, were treated with antidepressants. The recruitment of 106 participants was facilitated by their treating psychiatrists at the hospital. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22, standard for social science research. Out of the 106 participants, 64.2% were females, and 35.8% were males. The largest age group was 35–45, comprising 33% of the sample. A vast majority (99.1%) were under regular follow-up, with only 0.9% experiencing relapse. The primary antidepressant used was selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (72.6%). Most participants (61.3%) reported very high medication adherence. The notable barriers included treatment duration (13.4%), forgetting to take antidepressants (11.9%), frequent medication refills (17.9%), cultural and religious beliefs (19.3%), stigma (19.3%), travelling issues (42.9%), and lack of hospitals and clinics (30.8%). Healthcare facilitators such as effectiveness of antidepressants (27.5%), patient-provider relationship such as trusting healthcare providers (50.7%), and reminders such as keeping pills in visible places (65.9%) were prominent facilitators aiding adherence. Future research should focus on culturally tailored interventions and collaborative efforts among stakeholders. By addressing socio-cultural nuances and enhancing mental health support, more effective strategies can be developed to tackle medication adherence challenges in Erbil’s unique context.

The Association Between Type of Insurance Plan, Out-of-Pocket Cost, and Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications in Medicare Supplement Insurance Enrollees.

Medicare supplement insurance, or Medigap, covers 21% of Medicare beneficiaries. Despite offsetting some out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses, remaining OOP costs may pose a barrier to medication adherence. This study aims to evaluate how OOP costs and insurance plan types influence medication adherence among beneficiaries covered by Medicare supplement plans. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Merative MarketScan Medicare Supplement Database (2017-2019) in Medigap enrollees (≥65 years) with hypertension. The proportion of days covered (PDC) was a continuous measure of medication adherence and was also dichotomized (PDC ≥0.8) to quantify adequate adherence. Beta-binomial and logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between these outcomes and insurance plan type and log-transformed OOP costs, adjusting for patient characteristics. Among 27,407 patients with hypertension, the average PDC was 0.68 ± 0.31; 47.5% achieved adequate adherence. A mean $1 higher in 30-day OOP costs were associated with a 0.06 (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: -0.09 to -0.03) lower probability of adequate adherence, or a 5% (95% CI: 4%-7%) decrease in PDC. Compared with comprehensive plan enrollees, the odds of adequate adherence were lower among those with point-of-service plans (odds ratio [OR]: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.62-0.77), but higher among those with preferred provider organization (PPO) plans (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.15). Moreover, the association between OOP costs and PDC was significantly greater for PPO enrollees. While Medicare supplement insurance alleviates some OOP costs, different insurance plans and remaining OOP costs influence medication adherence. Reducing patient cost-sharing may improve medication adherence.

Factors affecting medication adherence in patients using oral chemotherapy: A descriptive study.

The utilization of oral chemotherapy agents for cancer treatment has witnessed a steady rise in recent years. The pivotal determinant for the success of oral chemotherapy lies in the adherence of cancer patients to the prescribed treatment. This study aims to explore oral chemotherapy adherence and identify factors influencing medication adherence among cancer patients. A total of 103 cancer patients participated in this descriptive study. Data were collected using the Oral Chemotherapy Adherence Scale, the Turkish Translation of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-T) and The Functional Living Index-Cancer. Of the participants, 66% reported good adherence to oral chemotherapy. Key findings indicate that access to health services (β = -1.473, p = 0.009), cancer stage (β = -1.570, p = 0.015) and the BMQ-T subscale of General Overuse (β = .696, p = 0.041) were independent predictors of medication adherence. The study observed medication non-adherence in one-third of patients undergoing oral chemotherapy. Primary contributors to non-adherence included difficulties in accessing health services, advanced cancer stage and the belief that drugs are over-recommended by doctors. These results underscore the need for a heightened focus on preventable factors, such as improving access to health services and addressing beliefs about drug overuse, to enhance medication adherence in patients receiving oral chemotherapy.

Levels of adherence to treatment, illness perception and acceptance of illness in patients with coronary artery disease - descriptive and correlational study

BackgroundUnderstanding the disease and its acceptance significantly influence adherence to prescribed medications, a critical aspect in managing coronary artery disease (CAD). This study is designed to explore the multifaceted factors influencing medication adherence specifically in CAD patients. Of particular interest is investigating the interconnectedness between medication adherence, the perception of illness, and the level of acceptance of the illness itself among these individuals.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 280 confirmed CAD patients who were selected through a convenience sampling method adhering to predefined inclusion criteria. The study was conducted between March and September 2023. Three primary parameters—medication adherence, illness perception, and acceptance of illness—were evaluated using standardized tools: The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, and Acceptance of Illness Scale. Statistical analyses using SPSS (version 25) were used to analyze the data.ResultsPatients had moderate illness perception (51.82 ± 7.58) and low acceptance to illness (16.98 ± 4.75), and 61.8 of them adhered to their medication regimen. A positive relationship between acceptance of illness and medication adherence (r = 0.435, p-value < 0.01) was found. Level of education, type of drug and marital status had significantly impact on medication adherence, and gender, level of education, intention to stop drug and marital status were associated with acceptance of illness (p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results underscore the pivotal role of medication adherence in CAD management. Future interventions should target improving illness perception and acceptance of illness among CAD patients to enhance their overall adherence to prescribed medications and ultimately improve disease management.

Description of Factors that Influence Medication Compliance in Hypertension Patients at the Separi 3 Kutai Kartanegara Health Center

Hypertension is a lifelong disease that cannot be permanently cured but can only be controlled by controlling blood pressure by managing a healthy lifestyle and taking recommended antihypertensive drugs. Purpose: this study is to describe the factors of knowledge, family support, and access to health facilities that influence medication adherence in hypertensive patients at the Separi Health Center. Methods: this study used a descriptive research design with a cross sectional approach. The sampling technique used is probability sampling technique with proportional stratified random sampling method with a total sample of 84 respondents. Results: the study showed that 82.1% of patients did not adhere to taking medication, and 17.9% of patients adhered to taking medication. Patients with less knowledge 31.0% and patients with good knowledge 69.0%. Patients with poor family support 56.0% and patients with good family support 44.0%. Patients with poor access to health services 46.4% and patients with good access to health services 53.6%. Conclusion: the results of the study show that despite having good knowledge, family support, and access to health services, most patients do not adhere to taking medication. Suggestions for existing health services are expected to improve service quality and provide information and education to people with hypertension.

Factors Influencing Medication Adherence in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate medication regimen complexity, social support, and beliefs about medicine as factors related to medication adherence, with the eventual goal of targeting these factors to improve medication adherence in patients undergoing hemodialysis.Methods: This study included 143 patients undergoing hemodialysis (hospitalized or outpatients) from two hospitals located in Daegu city. Data were collected from January 11 to March 31, 2023, using self-reported questionnaires, including the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), medication regimen complexity index, multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and beliefs about medicine. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive tests, the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regression via SPSS for Windows version 25.0.Results: Based on the MMAS-8 scores, the prevalence of medication nonadherence was determined to be 53.8%. In hierarchical regression analysis, the factors affecting medication adherence included beliefs about medicine (β=.34, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001) and social support (β=.30, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). The total explanatory power of the regression model was 44% (F=16.83, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001).Conclusion: Social support and beliefs about medicine can be effective strategies for positively changing medication adherence in patients undergoing hemodialysis. It is essential to establish nursing intervention programs to increase social support and modify beliefs about medicine in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Factors that influence medication adherence in women with fibromyalgia: A path analysis.

To investigate the relationships between depression symptoms, perceived stigma, disease severity, patient-provider communication and medication adherence in fibromyalgia patients. The objectives were to explore how these factors influence treatment adherence and to develop a comprehensive model illustrating their interconnections. Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome with fatigue, sleep issues and idiopathic pain. Medication adherence is limited by insufficient symptom relief, side effects and costs. Stigma further complicates fibromyalgia. Disease severity affects patient-provider communication. Associations between depression, stigma, severity, communication and adherence in fibromyalgia are unclear. A cross-sectional, correlational study. The STROBE guidelines for cross-sectional studies were followed. Participants included Hebrew-speaking participants who were members of two Facebook groups: 'Shades of Purple' and 'Fibromyalgia- Get to Know!' Between February and April 2022. They undertook evaluations using The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to gauge depression symptoms, assessed perceived stigma, utilised The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire to determine disease severity, employed The Patient Reaction Assessment questionnaire for patient-provider communication, and used the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Associations between the variables were explored using Pearson's correlations and path analyses. The study included 141 women with fibromyalgia, aged 22 to 76 years. Most reported having a stable partner (69.5%) and 75.2% had children. The treatment adherence levels were as follows: 53.2% (N = 75)-low, 33.3% (N = 47)-medium and 13.5% (N = 19)-high. Depression positively correlated with stigma. Stigma negatively correlated with patient-provider communication. Patient-provider communication positively correlated with treatment adherence. A significant negative indirect effect of depression on treatment adherence through stigma and patient-provider communication was found. Perceived stigma and patient-provider communication played a mediating role in the relationships between depression and treatment adherence among women with fibromyalgia. Addressing stigma related to fibromyalgia and effective patient-provider communication can positively influence treatment adherence. No patient or public contribution.

Description of self-care behaviours in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulant therapy: a scoping review.

The primary aim of this scoping review was to explore and categorize the medication-related self-care behaviours exhibited by patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who are on oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy. A scoping review was performed, and the systematic search of the literature yielded an initial 887 records. After deduplication and screening, 61 studies were included in the analysis, ranging from 2003 to 2023. The studies represented a wide geographical distribution and diverse methodologies. The results identified 16 self-care behaviours: a higher focus of the included literature on self-care monitoring (60.65% of studies), followed by self-care management and self-care maintenance (each 16.39%). These behaviours ranged from regular blood testing to consulting healthcare providers and lifestyle changes. The results also highlighted the relationship between treatment satisfaction, self-efficacy, and adherence. Several studies emphasized the critical role of healthcare providers in influencing medication adherence. Furthermore, patient knowledge, quality of life, and psychological factors were identified as key elements affecting self-care behaviours. The review provides a comprehensive landscape of medication-related self-care behaviours among NVAF patients on OAC therapy. It underscores the predominance of self-care monitoring behaviours and the critical roles of healthcare providers, psychological factors, and patient knowledge in influencing these behaviours. The findings also highlight the necessity for an integrated, patient-centred approach to improving self-care and self-management in OAC treatment. Future research should focus on addressing the identified gaps, including the relative lack of studies on lifestyle modification, emotional well-being, and technology-assisted interventions. This review is part of a broader project and is documented at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05820854.

The nonadherence to prescriptions among type 2 diabetes patients, and its determining factors

&lt;b&gt;Aim&lt;/b&gt;: The aim is to clarify the prevalence of nonadherence to antidiabetic therapies among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and identify its causes.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt;: A three-part questionnaire (general background, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice section, and non-adherence reasons) was developed. In total 324 diabetic patients were surveyed via telephone. The evaluation of patient adherence included both direct questions on adherence and a summary of patient responses to non-adherence comments. The analysis was performed on StataCorp Stata 14.2, and included descriptive analysis, simple and multivariate logistic regression.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Findings:&lt;/b&gt; Among the sociodemographic variables, age group, work level, and alcohol consumption may influence medication adherence. The comorbidity status of patients was also of relevance. Both variables had stronger relationships with adherence to anti-diabetic treatments compared to those with no comorbidities or no additional medicines. A strength of the study is that it addresses various medical diseases and attitudes about them, as well as a wide range of causes for non-adherence to non-diabetic medications.

Assessment of Factors Associated With Anti-Tubercular Treatment Compliance in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective. This study aims to investigate compliance and the influencing factors related to pediatric tuberculosis patients who are undergoing treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs in the Sichuan Province of China. Methods. A questionnaire survey was conducted between March 2019 and March 2021. The survey was distributed to caregivers of children aged 0 to 14 who had been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. These children had been receiving oral anti-tuberculosis drug treatment for more than 1 month. The survey was administered at the pediatric infection departments of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, and The First People's Hospital of Ganzi Prefecture. Results. The study revealed a notable lack of medication adherence among the pediatric patients. Through multiple linear regression analysis, it was determined that several factors played a role in influencing medication adherence among children with tuberculosis. These factors include the educational level of the parents, the frequency of daily anti-tuberculosis drug prescriptions, and the parents' comprehension of the disease. All of these factors showed statistically significant influence on medication adherence among pediatric tuberculosis patients (all P < .05). Conclusion. In order to enhance adherence among pediatric patients undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment, it is imperative to focus on reinforcing health education, particularly for parents with lower educational attainment and limited understanding of the disease.

Anti-Hypertensive Medication Adherence and Associated Factors among Adult Hypertensive Patients at Dilla University Referral Hospital, South Ethiopia

Background: Hypertension is a global public health challenge that contributes to the burden of hypertensive heart disease, stroke, renal failure, premature morbidity, and mortality. The availability of effective antihypertensive medications didn’t bring expected outcomes in terms of adherence for antihypertensive medication. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess antihypertensive medication adherence and associated factors among adult hypertensive patients at Dilla university referral hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted, at Dilla University Referral Hospital from June 10, 2021, to July 10, 2021, and 205 study participants were selected from the study population using a systematic random sampling procedure. Patients in the study were interviewed while their medical records were reviewed using a data abstraction sheet. Adherence was assessed using an eight-item Morisky Medication adherence scale (MMAS-8); a MMAS-8 score of less than 6 was considered non-adherence, and a MMAS-8 score greater than or equal to 6 was considered adherence. Factors associated with adherence were identified using binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval were calculated using SPSS version 20. Variables with a P-value &lt;0.05 in the multivariable analysis were assumed to be statistically significant factors. Results: 205 respondents were interviewed, with a response rate of 100%. More than half (57.6%) of the study participants were male. 65.3% (58.784–71.816) of the study participants were found to be adherent to their medication. Longer Duration of diagnosis of hypertension (AOR =0.280, 95% CI = 0.025–0.836), participants who can’t read and write (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.00-0840), and traditional drug users (AOR =0.15, 95% CI =0.003-0.489) were inversely significant associated with antihypertensive medication adherence. Conclusion: An adhesion level of 65.3% was found to be suboptimal. Traditional drug users, being uneducated and the duration of the diagnosis of hypertension were adversely influencing medication adherence. Therefore, routine health education and awareness creation are strongly recommended

Medication Adherence of Older Adults with Hypertension: A Systematic Review.

Hypertension (HTN) significantly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease, which are the leading causes of death and disability globally, particularly among older adults. Antihypertensive medication is a proven treatment for blood pressure control and preventing complications. However, medication adherence rates in older adults with HTN are low. In this review, we systematically identified factors influencing medication adherence in older adults with HTN. We applied the PRISMA guidelines and conducted systematic searches on PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar in July 2022 to identify preliminary studies reporting factors influencing medication adherence among older adults with HTN. The convergent integrated analysis framework suggested by the Joanna Briggs Institute for systematic reviews was adopted for data synthesis. Initially, 448 articles were identified, and after title and abstract screening, 16 articles qualified for full-text review. During this phase, three articles were excluded for reporting on irrelevant populations or focusing on issues beyond the review's aim, leaving thirteen studies in the final review. After data synthesis, fifteen themes were extracted from the key findings of the included studies. The most prevalent themes included the number of medications used (53.9%, n=7 studies), financial status (38.5%, n=5), sex (38.5%, n=5), age (30.1%, n=4), duration of disease (23.1%, n=3), comorbidities (23.1%, n=3), and health compliance (23.1%, n=3). Other themes, such as education, health literacy, health belief, medication belief, perception of illness, patient-physician relationship, self-efficacy, and social support, were also identified. The findings of this review highlight critical areas for developing innovative, evidence-based programs to improve medication adherence in hypertensive older adults. Insights from this review can contribute to improving medication adherence and preventing future health complications.

The Effect of Pharmacist Counseling on Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Values in Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is a disease often found in Indonesia. Hypertension can be controlled by compliance with taking medication and a healthy lifestyle. One effort to increase compliance is counseling. Pharmacist counseling can provide patient education and understanding of hypertension therapy while ensuring that patients are taking medication appropriately so as to increase compliance and control blood pressure. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of pharmacist counseling on drug compliance on blood pressure values in hypertensive patients at the Semarang Community Health Center. This research is a pre-experimental study with a One Group Pretest-Posttest design. Data collection was taken in March-April 2019. Blood pressure results were obtained before and after counseling with a value of p = 0.000 (p 0.05). This research can be concluded that pharmacist counseling can influence medication adherence and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values in hypertensive patients at the Semarang Community Health Center

Hubungan Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Faktor Lainnya dengan Tingkat Kepatuhan Pasien Hipertensi di RSAL Dr. Mintohardjo Jakarta

Hypertension is a "silent killer". It is still one of the bigest challenges in Indonesia, where many cases are still found in primary health facilities. Hypertensive patients who require long-term therapy and adherence are very important factors to support the success of therapy. Based on the data from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia (2018), 32.3% of hypertensive patients did not take medication regularly. Many factors influence medication adherence, such as level of knowledge, age, gender, working status, and length of illness. This study aimed to determine the effect of the level of knowledge and other factors on the level of medication adherence of hypertensive patients at the Dr. Mintohardjo Naval Hospital (RSAL). This research is a observasional study with a cross-sectional method and uses a questionnaire for data collection. Adherence level questionnaire uses MMAS-8. Analysis of the relationship between factors that influence the level of adherence uses logistic regression. The inclusion criteria of this study included hypertention outpatient aged ≤ 65 years old and are currently receiving antihypertensive therapy. The results of this study showed that out of 284 respondents, 92% of respondents had good knowledge regarding hypertension, while the level of adherence to taking medication was low at 47%. Factors that influence the level of patient adherence to taking medication in this study are gender (p-value = &lt;0.001), education (p-value = &lt;0.001), duration of hypertension (p-value = 0.033), and working status (p-value = &lt;0.001). In contrast, the level of knowledge (p-value = 0.979) and age (p = 0.87) did not significantly influence the level of medication adherence. The Odds Ratio (OR) for working status was 5.73, OR for final education was 2.97, OR for the duration of hypertension was 2.24, and OR for gender was 0.34.

The association of depressive symptoms and medication adherence in asthma patients: The mediation effect of medication beliefs

BackgroundThe significant role of depression in influencing medication beliefs, which are pivotal cognitive factors that strongly influence medication adherence, has been established. Poor adherence to asthma-controlled medication poses an significant barrier to achieving optimal asthma management. ObjectiveTo explore the potential mediating effects of medication beliefs on the relationship between depressive symptoms and medication adherence in patients with asthma. MethodsDemographic and clinical characteristics, depressive symptoms, medication adherence, and medication beliefs were collected using questionnaires. Structural equation modeling, was utilized to model medication beliefs as mediators in the relationship between depressive symptoms and medication adherence. Bootstrapping was performed to analyze the mediation- and contrast-specific indirect effects of the two medication beliefs. ResultsAmong the patients who participated in the study, 29.6 % with depressive symptoms were more prone to poor adherence and exhibited skepticism toward asthma medications. Depression had a direct effect (direct effect = −0.275, 95%CI: −0.369 to −0.190) and an indirect effect on adherence mediated by medication beliefs (indirect effect = −0.168, 95%CI: −0.224 to −0.121). The specific mediation effect of concern belief was stronger than that of necessity belief (difference = −0.076, 95%CI: −0.132 to −0.029). ConclusionDepressive symptoms have a direct impact on medication adherence as well as an indirect effect mediated by beliefs about medication, particularly concerns belief.

Relationships between health literacy, self-efficacy, and medication adherence in older people with polypharmacy: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: This study identified the relationships between health literacy, self-efficacy, and medication adherence among older people with polypharmacy and analyzed the factors affecting medication adherence. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a survey of 95 participants who were on five or more drugs, 65 years or older, and visited one community center in Seoul between August 5, 2019 and August 7, 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression via the IBM SPSS 23.0 program. Results: The participants took on average 8.32±3.90 drugs daily. Their health literacy was very low at 3.53±2.07. Self-efficacy and medication adherence were high at 33.63±5.36 and 15.03±3.27, respectively. Health literacy differed based on age and education levels, whereas self-efficacy differed depending on the frequency of medication. No demographic or medication-related factors caused a difference in medication adherence. Health literacy did not correlate with self-efficacy and medication adherence. Self-efficacy showed a negative correlation with medication adherence (r=-.52, p&lt;.001). However, as a lower medication adherence score indicates greater adherence, a negative correlation means higher self-efficacy is linked with better adherence. Self-efficacy influenced medication adherence (β=-0.52, p&lt;.001) with an explanatory power of 27.0% (F=17.01, p&lt;.001) in this group. Also, the negative regression coefficient means higher self-efficacy was associated with better adherence. Conclusion: Medication adherence was generally high, with self-efficacy being the main influencing factor. Hence, intervention programs that promote self-efficacy should be implemented for older people with polypharmacy.

Assessing the Adherence to Antidiabetic Medications Among Patients Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Ajman, UAE.

Background Medication adherence plays a vital role in managing blood sugar levels and preventing complications in individuals with diabetes. Patient adherence to antidiabetic medications and the factors associated with medication adherence were assessed. Objectives To assess the medication adherence among patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. To determine the various factors influencing medication adherence. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes who were visiting the Internal Medicine Department of Thumbay University Hospital in the United Arab Emirates. A questionnaire was used to gather information about the medication adherence of a group of chosen consecutive patients. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York) was used for data analysis. A two-sided P-value <0.05 was regarded as significant when using the chi-square test to investigate the relationships between categorical variables. Results A total of 204 patients participated in the study: 112 (54.90%) males and 92 (45.09%) females. The mean age of the patients was 49 years. The adherence rates among males and females were 91% and 90%, respectively. Some of the common reasons for non-adherence to antidiabetic medications in our study included forgetfulness, unpleasant side effects, the use of multiple drugs, and long treatment duration. Conclusion Our study highlighted important factors associated with patients' non-adherence to their antidiabetic medications. Future research on methods to increase adherence rates should be taken into consideration.