European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL DETERMINANTS OF MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA IN AN OUTPATIENT FACILITY OF A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

*M. N. Igwe and G. U. Aguocha

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Adherence to prescribed mediation is an important factor to consider in determining the course and outcome of schizophrenia. Several factors have been established in literature to affect medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia. This study assessed the socio-demographic and clinical variables that determine level of medication adherence among patients with schizophrenia treated in a tertiary hospital. Materials and methods: One hundred consecutive and consenting patients with schizophrenia who met the inclusion criteria were interviewed using the socio-demographic/clinical characteristics questionnaire and Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) on the clinic days at the outpatient unit of a tertiary hospital. Results: Fifty five (55%) participants were males, while 45(45%) were females. Thirty eight (38%) participants scored enough on MARS to be categorized as having good adherence to medication while 62(62%) participants had poor adherence to medication. Twenty three (60.5%) out of the 38 participants who showed adherence to medication were employed compared to 15(39.5%) who were unemployed (P = 0.013). Comparing those using typical and atypical antipsychotics, more participants, 23(60.5%) on atypical were adherent to prescribed medications, compared to 15(39.5%) who were on typical antipsychotics (P = 0.013). Patients who had only one episode were more likely to be adherent to medications compared to patients who had multiple relapses (P = 0.046). Conclusion: Findings from this study indicated that adherence to prescribed medication among patients with schizophrenia was low. Absence of relapses, use of atypical antipsychotic medications and employment were significantly associated with better adherence to medications.

Keywords: medication adherence, patients, schizophrenia, tertiary hospital.