Patient Preference and Adherence (Aug 2022)

Medication Adherence Among Geriatric Patients with Chronic Diseases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

  • Alhabib MY,
  • Alhazmi TS,
  • Alsaad SM,
  • AlQahtani AS,
  • Alnafisah AA

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 16
pp. 2021 – 2030

Abstract

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Mohammed Y Alhabib,1,* Taha S Alhazmi,1 Saad M Alsaad,1,* Alhanouf S AlQahtani,2 Aisha A Alnafisah3 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Aribia; 2General Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Aribia; 3Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Riyadh, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Aribia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Saad M Alsaad, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Aribia, Tel +966505493944, Email [email protected]: Medication non-adherence is a common and significant public health problem, especially among the geriatric population. This study’s objective was to measure medication adherence and associated factors among geriatric patients with chronic diseases.Methods: A cross-sectional study targeted outpatient geriatrics who suffer from chronic diseases at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Telephone interviews were utilized to collect data from participants using a structured questionnaire and the GMAS validated instrument scale (General Medication Adherence Scale) intended to measure important determinants impacting adherence: patient behaviour, cost, comorbidity, and pill burden.Results: A total of 422 patients were assessed for medication adherence. The Mean overall score for GMAS was 29.9± 3.1 out of 33. (64.9%) of the patients had a high level of medication adherence. The patients had a high adherence on the domain of patient behavior related non-adherence (PBNA) (13.5± 1.9) out of 15, a high adherence on the domain of additional disease and pill burden (ADPB) (11.2± 1.4) out of 12, and good to high adherence on the cost-related non-adherence (CRNA) (5.25± 1.1) out of 6.Conclusion: The geriatric population with chronic diseases in our study had a good level of adherence to medication if compared with other international figures. To promote better medication adherence, patients must have a good understanding of their disease and strong beliefs about the medications prescribed.Keywords: frailty, older patients, hospitalized, prevalence, Saudi Arabia

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