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CP-111 Medication regimen adherence in polymedicated chronic patients
  1. E Calvo-Cidoncha1,
  2. J González-Bueno2,
  3. MD Toscano-Guzmán3,
  4. R Cantudo-Cuenca4,
  5. MI Guzmán-Ramos4,
  6. B Santos-Ramos4
  1. 1Área de Gestión Sanitaria Sur de Sevilla, Pharmacy, Seville, Spain
  2. 2Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Pharmacy, Vic, Spain
  3. 3Hospital Universitario Virgen Del Rocío, Pharmacy, Sevilla, Spain
  4. 4Área de Gestión Sanitaria Sur de Sevilla, Pharmacy, Sevilla, Spain

Abstract

Background Only 50–75% of patients are adherent to medications prescribed for the management of chronic illnesses. Adherence is influenced by several factors. We need to develop a means of assessing adherence and the factors that influence it.

Purpose To determine the medication regimen adherence in polymedicated chronic patients aged ≥65 years, and secondly, to analyse the causes of non-adherence.

Material and methods Observational prospective study. We included patients aged ≥65 years, with ≥3 chronic diseases and polymedicated (≥5 drugs) who had been hospitalised between February and April 2015. The variables collected were: demographics, number of drugs, medication regimen adherence and causes of non-adherence. Adherence was determined by the Morisky Scale, 4 point score, where higher scores reflect greater adherence. Patients were considered adherent if they scored 4. The causes of non-adherence were evaluated by the ARMS Scale. This is a 12 item scale which includes two subscales. One subscale assesses a patient’s ability to correctly self-administer the prescribed regimen and the other assesses a patient’s ability to refill medications on schedule. The data were obtained directly from the patients.

Results 72 patients were included (36 (50%) male, 79 ± 5 years old). The mean number of drugs was 12 ± 6. 25 (35%) patients were considered non-adherent. Scores obtained from the Morisky Scale were: 9 (13%) patients 2 points, 16 (22%) 3 points and 47 (65%) 4 points. The median number of reasons for non-adherence was 3 (IQR 2–4). The causes related to medication self-administration were: 18 (72%) patients forgot to take the medicine, 8 (32%) decided not to take it, 8 (32%) did not take the medicine when they felt better, 6 (24%) changed the dose and 2 (8%) did not take the medicine when they felt sick. The causes of non-adherence related to the patient’s ability to refill medications were: 8 (32%) patients forgot to get the prescriptions filled, 5 (20%) ran out of medicine and 2 (8%) did not refill the medicines because they were expensive.

Conclusion There is a high prevalence of non-adherence in polymedicated chronic patients. There are too many different reasons why patients are non-adherent. Personal development strategies are required to improve medication adherence.

No conflict of interest.

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