European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT MEDICATION ADHERENCE IN TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Praveen Kumar T.*, M. Sudhakar, Vamshee Priya A., Shivani K., Bharath Bhargav R. and Samrin Begum

ABSTRACT

Background: Medication adherence or medication-taking behaviour is defined as the extent to which patients take medications prescribed by their physicians in terms of timing, dosage, and frequency. It includes factors such as filling prescriptions, remembering to take medication on time and understanding instructions, discontinuation of drug therapy. Non-adherence to long-term therapy for chronic diseases averages 50% in developed countries. Poor adherence is a primary reason for poor outcomes and is a potential waste of healthcare resources. Methodology: This prospective, observational study was carried out under three departments General medicine, paediatrics, and psychiatry departments at Malla Reddy Hospital. Total 200 Subjects were considered and divided as 80:80:40 [general medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry respectively] and assessed for adherence rates accordingly. A validated assessment tool MMAS-8 questionnaire scale was used to document adherence scores of individual patients. Follow-up was done after 12 weeks to assess and improve the adherence levels by providing effective patient counselling and pictograms. Results: According to data, Adherence levels under general medicine, paediatrics, psychiatry was found to be [low-44%, 35%, 38%; medium-32%,23%, 42%; high-24%, 42%, 20%] and increased to [low- 31%, 38%, 25%; mediun-40%, 31%, 50%; high- 29%, 50%, 25% respectively]by patient counselling and follow-up. Gender-wise adherence was found to be higher in males (27%) than females (22%) and it was concluded that literate (41%) people are highly adherent than the illiterates (24%). Overall Departmental adherence levels are [Paediatrics > General Medicine > Psychiatry]. Conclusion: Non-adherence to medication leads to relapsing of the disease, resulting in hospitalization and higher medical costs. This study highlighted the level of adherence between three departments and the impact of patient counselling and follow-up on their improvement. The strategy to alter patients’ behaviour towards prescribed medication ought to be widely studied and established. The role of pharmacists may be explored in addition.

Keywords: Medication adherence, Non-adherence, MMAS-8 scale, Patient counselling, Compliance, Pharmacist.