Adherence to Rectal Mesalamine in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Patient Adherence Research

Background:

• Rectal mesalamine is a standard therapy for ulcerative colitis.
• Adherence rates and barriers to rectal mesalamine use are not well-understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of nonadherence to rectal mesalamine.
• To identify patient-reported barriers to rectal mesalamine adherence.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of 70 ulcerative colitis patients over 12 months.
• Adherence assessed via pharmacy refills (medication possession ratio).
• Qualitative interviews and focus groups analyzed for adherence barriers.

Main Results:

• 55% of patients reported occasional nonadherence at baseline.
• 71% were nonadherent based on medication possession ratio (<0.6).
• Nonadherence linked to administration method (65%) and lifestyle (40%); older patients and males were more likely to adhere.

Conclusions:

• Intentional nonadherence to rectal mesalamine is prevalent in ulcerative colitis.
• Factors like dosing frequency, age, gender, and lifestyle influence adherence.