Low medication adherence and its associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending Amana Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Level of medication adherence and its determinants of cardiovascular disease patients attending at specialized teaching hospitals of Amhara regional state, Ethiopia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background

Non-adherence to medication in patients with cardiovascular disease continues to be a main cause of suboptimal management, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased healthcare expenses. The present study assessed the level of medication adherence and its determinants of cardiovascular disease patients.

Methods

An institutional-based multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted with patients with cardiovascular disease in Northwest Ethiopian teaching hospitals. The level of medication adherence was evaluated using a standardized questionnaire of the Adherence in Chronic Disease Scale (ACDS). To find determinants of the level of medication adherence, an ordinal logistic regression model was employed. Statistics were significant when P ≤ 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

In the end, 336 participants were included in the research. According to this study, one-third of patients had low medication adherence, half had medium adherence, and one-fifth had high medication adherence. Elderly patients [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.691; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.704-4.251; P < 0.000], marital status (AOR = 1.921; 95% CI, 1.214-3.039; P = 0.005), alcoholic patients (AOR = 2.782; 95% CI, 1.745-4.435; P < 0.000), Patients without physical activity (AOR = 1.987; 95% CI 1.251-3.156; P = 0.004), non health insurances (AOR = 1.593; 95% CI 1.003-2.529; P = 0.049), sever Charles comorbidity index (AOR = 2.486; 95% CI 1.103-5.604; P = 0.028), patients with polypharmacy (AOR = 2.998 (1.817-4.947) P < 0.000) and, manypolypharmacy (AOR = 3.031 (1.331-6.898) P = 0.008) were more likely to have low medication adherence.

Conclusion

The current study concluded that one-third of study participants had low medication adherence. Older age, marital status, drinker, physical inactivity, drug source, comorbidity, and polypharmacy all contributed to the low level of medication adherence. To improve patients with cardiovascular disease's adherence to their medications, intervention is necessary.

Predictors of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at regional referral hospitals in the central zone, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Microvascular complications encompass a group of diseases which result from long-standing chronic effect of diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to determine the prevalence of microvascular complications and associated risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study was conducted at Singida and Dodoma regional referral hospitals in Tanzania from December 2021 to September 2022. A total of 422 patients with T2DM were included in the analysis by determining the prevalence of microvascular complications and their predictors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. A two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of microvascular complications was 57.6% (n = 243) and diabetic retinopathy was the most common microvascular complication which accounted for 21.1% (n = 89). Having irregular physical activity (AOR = 7.27, 95% CI = 2.98-17.71, p < 0.001), never having physical activity (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.4-4.01, p = 0.013), being hypertensive (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI = 2.14-11.68, p = 0.030), having T2DM for more than 5 years (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.42-5.26, p = 0.025), being obese (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.22-5.68, p = 0.010), and taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 0.15-0.77, p < 0.001) were the predictors of microvascular complications. This study has revealed a significant proportion of microvascular complications in a cohort of patients with T2DM. Lack of regular physical activity, being obese, taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly, presence of hypertension, and long-standing duration of the disease, were significantly associated with microvascular complications.

Perspective and Experience of Patients with Aplastic Anemia on Medication Adherence

Background

Drug treatment is critical for patients with aplastic anemia, and medication adherence directly impacts the therapeutic effect. Poor medication adherence is common among patients with chronic diseases. However, knowledge of the perceptions and experiences of patients with aplastic anemia regarding taking prescribed medicines is limited.

Objective

To gain insights into the perceptions and experiences of patients with aplastic anemia regarding taking prescribed medicines.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative design was used. Fifteen patients with aplastic anemia were recruited from the hematology department. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method and conceptualized using the Health Belief Model.

Results

Five themes emerged: the perceived threat of aplastic anemia, perceived benefits and barriers of taking prescribed medicines, cues to action, self-efficacy, and modifying factors. While patients' knowledge was limited, they acknowledged the threat of aplastic anemia and the necessity of drug treatments, but they also encountered some barriers in practice. The desire for health and healthcare providers' opinions were the main clues to medication adherence. The expectation of the future and the sense of self-competency made participants adopt good behavior.

Discussions

This study provided new perspectives on the medication adherence of patients with aplastic anemia, which may be valuable in clinical work and research. Further interventions should be developed for intentional and unintentional non-compliance. Future research can start with developing professional assessment tools addressing the influence of cognition and emotion on compliance.