Relationships Between Beliefs about Medications and Nonadherence to Prescribed Chronic Medications

• DOI: 10.1345/aph.1h153
• Publication Date: 2006-09-20T02:26:27Z
• Authors: Hemant M Phatak; Joseph Thomas
• Keywords: Medication Adherence; Cross-sectional study

Background: Medication beliefs of patients with a specific medical condition have been associated nonadherence to drugs used treat that condition. However, associations between medication and individuals on chronic, multiple medications not studied. Objective: To investigate patients' chronic drug therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered survey waiting see pharmacists at an outpatient pharmacy in primary care clinic was conducted. Participants' were assessed using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, Morisky Adherence Scale. Pearson correlation analysis assess bivariate nonadherence. Regression relative strength various also significance interactions those Results: There positive concerns (p < 0.001), perceived general harmful effects overprescribing by physicians 0.001) When each belief assessed, while controlling for other beliefs, specific–necessity = 0.02) specific–concerns 0.01) exhibited significant negative nonadherence, respectively. All two-way variables model insignificant. consisting age, total number used, is, specific–necessity, specific–concerns, general–overuse, general–harm, accounted 26.5% variance. alone explained 22.4% variation Conclusions: Patients' portion