Comparative Role of Patient's Belief about Prescribed Medicine and De-mographic Factors in Adherence to drug treatment in Asthma, Renal failure and Cancer Diseases

Patient's beliefs about the necessity of medicines and their concerns about adverse effects might influence the adherence and treatment outcomes. This study was carried out to investigate the impact of patient's beliefs on their adherence to prescribed medicines in three different chronic diseases and the role of demographic factors in this relationship. This cross-sectional descriptive study was done during 2008-2009. Data was gathered through interview with 213 patients referring to educational pharmacies of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and suffering from one of the chronic diseases including asthma, cancer and kidney transplantation. Three questionnaires including demographic factors, beliefs about medicines (BMQ) and Morisky's medication adherence assessment were used. Descriptive data and correlation analysis tests were made by using SPSS17. Age but not gender had a significant role in patient's adherence to medication. Education level was positively correlated with adherence to medicines in patients with asthma and whom with kidney transplantation but not in patients with cancer. The patient's belief about their medicines had a significant impact on their adherence to their prescription in all three subgroups of patients; however this relationship was stronger for patients with cancer and kidney transplantation than asthmatic patients. Patient's beliefs about their medicines could influence their adherence with medication especially for more serious diseases. It is also concluded that younger and higher educated patients are more adherent. It seems that educational interventions especially for older patients and in chronic disease states are beneficial to improve their adherence with medication.