Evaluation of medication adherence and medication beliefs and their relation with quality of life in osteoporotic patients with and without vertebral fractures: a path analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Osteoporosis (OP) is a public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality with various complications, especially fractures, negatively affects quality of life (QoL) and creates an economic burden on society. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among medication adherence, medication beliefs, QoL in Turkish patients with OP. Results The Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) total score was 17 in those with vertebral fractures and 18 in those without vertebral fractures. The total Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (Qualeffo-41) score was 48.7 in those with vertebral fractures and 35.1 in those without vertebral fractures. Visual analog scale (VAS) of pain scores showed a moderate correlation with every domain of the Qualeffo-41 scores (r = 0.401, r = 0.412, r = 0.391, r = 0.402, r = 0.380, r = 0.387 respectively, P = 0.05) of statistically significant. Conclusions Enhancing positive medication beliefs are a promising approach to improve medication adherence, and in turn, improved diseases self management and better QoL, in OP patients.

Keywords

• Osteoporosis
• Vertebrae fracture
• Medication adherence
• Beliefs about medicines
• Quality of life