THE IMPACT OF MEDICATION REGIMEN COMPLEXITY ON ADHERENCE TO LONG-TERM THERAPIES

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR; DANISH SHAKEEL

doi:10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i9.42304

Authors

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
DANISH SHAKEEL Department of Computer Science Engineering, University Institute of Engineering, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ajpcr.2021.v14i9.42304

Abstract

Objective: Adherence is a multifactorial phenomenon. Medication-related factors have long been the focus of attention. However, the results are inconsistent.

Methods: In a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of outpatients, we assessed 180 patients suffering from chronic conditions. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of medication regimen complexity on adherence to long-term drug therapies.

Results: 91.66% of patients receiving more than four drugs had good or high adherence. 80.94% of patients on thrice a day (or more) drug administration had good or high adherence. 91.66% of patients receiving drug therapy for more than 5 years had good or high adherence. In all other groups, the adherence was low. The adherence was significantly (p<0.05) and positively (rs=0.792 and 0.846) correlated to the frequency of drug administration and duration of treatment. Adherence was positively correlated to the number of drugs per day (rs=0.668) but the relationships were not statistically significant (p=0.102). All the correlations were large.

Conclusions: We found adherence positively correlated with medication regimen complexity. An improved understanding of the determinants of medication adherence is needed.

Keywords: Medication regimen complexity, Adherence, Long-term therapy, Chronic disease

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Author Biography

SHAKEEL AHMAD MIR, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Associate Professor

Clinical Pharmacology

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