Abstract
Objective: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prolonged illness with co-morbidities. These patients have to take a large number of pills per day. Hence, this study evaluates the extent of medication adherence and study factors responsible for the same.
Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire based study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Patients (n = 100) suffering from CKD for three months or more were interviewed. Morisky medication adherence questionnaire was used to assess overall adherence. Scoring was done accordingly: high (score =0), medium (score 1-2) and low (score >2).
Results: 36% patient’s show low adherence. Common causes of low adherence were complex dosing schedule (20%), difficult to take large number (20%) and forgetfulness (18%). 70% patients were not aware about importance of taking each medicine. Average number of medicines taken by each patient was 6.13per day. Only 3% stopped taking medicines due to high cost. Statistically significant positive correlation was observed between poor adherence and number of concurrent illnesses (r=0.68, P<0.0001) and number of medicines (r=0.77, P<0.0001) taken
Conclusion: Since majority of patients were not aware about importance of taking each medicine, creating awareness about same is essential for improving drug adherence. Measures to make patient aware regarding seriousness of the condition, prevention of its complication and management of co-morbidities are essential. Physician should try to avoid poly-pharmacy. Use of long acting preparations and/or fixed dose combinations may be encouraged whenever required.
Keywords: Morisky medication adherence Score, adherence, CKD.
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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i3.12
