Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2025
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
Published on: June 12, 2020
Medication Adherence of Children with Congenital Hypothyroidism in Iran: A National Cross-Sectional Study
Shahin Yarahmadi1, Bahram Nikkhoo2, Shiva Bararpour3
1Ministry of Health, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Medication adherence is good in 71% of Iranian children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Interventions like education and follow-up are recommended to improve treatment compliance for this common cause of intellectual disability.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a leading preventable cause of intellectual disability in children.
- Effective newborn screening and treatment programs are crucial for managing CH.
- Despite nearly two decades of screening in Iran, patient treatment adherence remains unevaluated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate treatment adherence in children diagnosed with CH in Iran.
- To identify factors influencing medication compliance in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A national cross-sectional study in 2024 involving 400 children with CH (born 2019-2023).
- Adherence assessed using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale.
- Data analyzed with chi-squared tests, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Overall good adherence (≥ 6) was observed in 71.0% of participants (284/400).
- Factors associated with adherence included place of residence, maternal education, paternal education, and CH type.
- Multivariate analysis indicated good adherence in children with permanent CH, with parental education not being statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- Medication compliance is good in over two-thirds of children with CH identified through newborn screening in Iran.
- Educational programs and active patient follow-up are recommended to further enhance treatment compliance.
- Improving adherence is vital for preventing intellectual disability associated with congenital hypothyroidism.
Background:
Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common preventable and treatable cause of intellectual disability in children. A key component of the surveillance system for congenital hypothyroidism is ensuring a regular treatment program for affected children. Despite nearly 20 years since the successful implementation of the newborn screening program for hypothyroidism in Iran, a comprehensive evaluation of patients' adherence to treatment has not been conducted.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the adherence to treatment among patients with congenital hypothyroidism in Iran.
Methods:
In this national cross-sectional study conducted in 2024, the adherence to treatment of 400 children with congenital hypothyroidism born between 2019 and 2023 in Iran was examined using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. The patients were randomly selected from national registry data. Data were analyzed using chi-squared tests, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression in Stata software version 16.
Results:
The mean and standard deviation of medication adherence was 6.35 ± 1.41. Overall, adherence was good (≥ 6) in 284 (71.0%) of the study participants. In the univariate analysis, the most significant factors influencing adherence were place of residence, higher maternal education, lower paternal education, and type of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). In the multivariate analysis, children with permanent CH had good adherence, and parental education was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
The results of this study showed that medication compliance in more than two-thirds of hypothyroid children diagnosed by national newborn screening is good. Given the importance of treatment in these patients, it is recommended that intervention plans be implemented, including educational programs and active follow-up of patients to increase compliance.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview
01:28Drug Therapy
Antianxiety Medications
01:20Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
01:01Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
01:15Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...