Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: June | Volume: 10 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 130-138
A Community Based Study on Assessment of Medication Adherence in Patients with Chronic Diseases
Keerthana Ramesh1, Anasuya P1, Hawanisha K P1, BlessyBabu Philipose1, Krishnanada Kammath2, Abhishek Pradhan3
1Pharm D, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Srinivas College of Pharmacy, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India,
2Department of Pharmaceutics, Professor, Srinivas College of Pharmacy,
3Department of Pharmacy Practice, Assistant Professor, Srinivas College of pharmacy
Corresponding Author: Keerthana Ramesh
ABSTRACT
Medication adherence is defined by the World Health Organization as "the degree to which the person’s behaviour corresponds with the agreed recommendations from a health care provider. According to WHO there are multiple factors leading to poor medication adherence, normally classified as socio-economic factors, therapy related factors, patient related factors, condition related factors and health system/ healthcare team related factors. The present study aimed to assess medication adherence among patients with chronic diseases. And it also reviews various barriers for non-adherence. A prospective observational study was conducted for a period of 6 months in the community of Mangaluru. A validated Morisky medication adherence questionnaire (MMAS-8) for assessing medication adherence was prepared and the survey was conducted. This study covered 207 participants who were under treatment for chronic diseases. Out of 207 patients the number of males participated were found to be 126(61%) and females were 81(39%). Study revealed that 91(43.97%) are low adherent while 68 (32.85%) are moderately adherent and 48 (23.18%) are highly adherent to their prescribed therapy. In this study, the most common reasons associated with non-adherence were found to be age, forgetfulness, co-morbidity, patient felt better and pill burden (polypharmacy). From the data, out of 207 only 91 have received counselling and 82 of them fell under medium& high category, which means counselling is progressive & it improves adherence. The effectiveness of a treatment depends on both the efficacy of a medication and patient adherence to the therapeutic regimen. Patients, healthcare providers and health care systems, all have a role to improve medication adherence.
Key words: Medication Adherence, Chronic Diseases, Morisky scale, Barriers, patient counselling, Non- Adherence