Medication adherence in chronic illness: do beliefs about medications play a role?

BACKGROUND: Several medicines are prescribed for chronic disease management; however, adherence to long-term therapy remains poor. Culture influences beliefs about medications and, ultimately, adherence to treatment. There is a paucity of data with regard to beliefs about medications in the Middle East region, and it remains to be determined how these beliefs would impact treatment adherence. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between patients’ beliefs about medications with self-reported adherence to treatment among a chronically ill multicultural patient population. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among patients treated for chronic illnesses in the Ministry of Health primary care clinics in Kuwait. Patients completed a questionnaire that consisted of questions to collect information about their health status and demographics using validated instruments: the Beliefs about Medication, Sensitive Soma Assessment Scale, and Medication Adherence Report Scale-5 items. The main outcome measures were self-reported adherence to medications, beliefs, and perceived sensitivity toward medications. RESULTS: Of the 1,150 questionnaires distributed, 783 were collected – giving a response rate of 68.1%. Of the 783 patients, 56.7% were male, 73.7% were married, 53.3% were non-Kuwaitis, and 49.4% had low income (<1,000 KD/3,350 USD monthly). Patients self-reported having a cardiovascular illness (80.2%), diabetes mellitus (67.7%), respiratory disease (24.3%), or mood disorder (28.6%). Participants had a mean of two comorbid illnesses and indicated taking an average of four prescription medicines to treat them. A structural equation model analysis showed adherence to medications was negatively impacted by higher negative beliefs toward medications (beta = −0.46). Factors associated with negative beliefs toward medications included marital status (being unmarried; beta = −0.14), nationality (being Kuwaiti; beta = 0.15), having lower education level (beta = −0.14), and higher illness severity (beta = 0.15). Younger age (beta = 0.10) and higher illness severity (beta = −0.9) were independently associated with lower medication adherence. Income and gender did not influence medication adherence or beliefs about medications. The combined effect of variables tested in the model explained 24% of the variance in medication adherence. CONCLUSION: Medication adherence is a complex, multifaceted issue and patient beliefs about medications contribute significantly, although partially, to adherence among a multicultural Middle Eastern patient population.