Study on compliance to medications among patients attending cardiology clinic at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa

Abstract

Globally, cardiovascular illnesses are the number one killer. According to estimates, 17.9 million deaths worldwide in 2019 were attributed to cardiovascular illnesses. Hence adherence to the prescribed medication is very important primary intervention to this kind of chronic disease conditions. Drug compliance is the deliberate effort to take drugs as directed; it's the degree to which everyone's conduct complies with medical and health guidance. The main obstacle to the efficient provision of medical treatment is noncompliance. Frequent Hospitalizations and the need for expensive medications in the event of a relapse brought on by non-adherence, impose higher economic burden to the nation. Objectives are to determine compliance to medications and identify factors affecting drug compliance and non- compliance to medications among patients attending to the cardiology clinic Teaching Hospital Batticaloa. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted from January 2023 to December 2023 among patients attending to the cardiology clinic at THB. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale 8 (MMAS-8), pre tested, validated, interview administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Systematic sampling method was used and among patients who attend the clinic every 6th patient were recruited to the study. Statistical package for social sciences version 24 (SPSS 24) was used to enter and analyzed the data using descriptive statistics. Among 370 patients recruited for this study 42.4% had medium level of drug compliance and 36.5% had high and only 21.1% patients had low level of drug compliance. Around 33.2 % participants were on hyper poly pharmacy where more than 10 tablets per day have been prescribed. This study showed significant association between poor drug compliance and poly pharmacy (P=0.046), presence of co-morbidities (P<0.006). Patients wanting to spend a healthy life as previous, good family support, adequate monthly income, want to prevent recurrence of cardiac illnesses and expectation for long life were some of the influencing factors for good drug compliance reported by the participants. Most of the participants reported forgetfulness as the commonest contributing factor to non- compliance besides increasing cost of medicines, worry about taking long term treatments due to side effects, busy life style and lack of symptoms. Overall compliance to medication is in medium level among cardiology clinic follow up patients at THB. Forgetfulness remains the common reason for poor compliance. Regular health education is needed for improving compliance among this clinic patients.