Low Medication Knowledge and Adherence to Oral Chronic Medications among Patients Attending Community Pharmacies: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Low-Income Country

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of knowledge, medication adherence, and the relationship among patients taking chronic oral medication and attending community pharmacies in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult chronic disease patients who were taking oral medications and getting service in 19 community pharmacies in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia. Patients' medication knowledge and adherence were assessed using interviewer-administered validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 402 study participants (mean ± SD age = 44.7 ± 16.9 years, range = 18–86 years), 53.2% were males, 84.8% were aged <65 years, and 60.7% had high school education and above. About 348 (88.6%) respondents have used oral medications for more than one year. Less than half of respondents have good medication knowledge (n = 54, 38.3%) and were adherent to their medication (n = 158, 39.3%). Chronic disease patients with high school and above education are 5.35 times (95% CI: 3.231–8.857, p < 0.001) more likely to have good knowledge of their medication and having good medication knowledge was linked to higher medication adherence (AOR, 95% CI = 10.300 [6.16517.209]; p < 0.001). A statistically significant correlation was observed between the scores of medication knowledge and adherence (r = −0.471, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The majority of patients on oral chronic medications and attending community pharmacies in Gondar town do not have good medication knowledge and were nonadherent. Community pharmacists need to engage in medication counseling to improve medication knowledge and adherence of chronic disease patients.