Medication adherence among patients with chronic diseases: a survey-based study in pharmacies

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Patient Adherence Research
• Public Health and Chronic Disease Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Poor medication adherence is a significant issue, leading to disease progression, increased mortality, and elevated healthcare expenses.
• Understanding the factors influencing adherence is crucial for improving patient outcomes in chronic disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate drug adherence rates among adult pharmacy customers with chronic diseases.
• To identify factors influencing medication adherence in a non-selected patient cohort on long-term treatment.

Main Methods:

• An 8-week, anonymized survey was conducted in 152 German pharmacies.
• The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and a custom questionnaire assessed adherence and influencing factors.
• Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Main Results:

• Overall adherence rate was 59.1% among 1192 included patients.
• Positive associations with adherence included non-smoking, retirement, fewer complaints, belief in drug effects, disease knowledge, and quality of care.
• Key predictors for adherence were minimal depression (OR 2.3), older age >63 years (OR 2.2), perceived medication importance (OR 2.0), good tolerability (OR 2.0), and expected drug effects (OR 1.6).

Conclusions:

• Suboptimal medication adherence is prevalent in pharmacy customers with chronic conditions.
• Identified factors can help pinpoint patients at risk for nonadherence.
• Improving physician-patient communication is vital for enhancing medication adherence rates.