Abstract:
Aim: The study aims to evaluate the medication adherence behavior of individuals by using validated questionnaire and to enhance the adherence by using various cost effective interventional methods which likely have a greater effect on the health of patients with chronic diseases than any Improvement in specific medical therapies. Method: The prospective interventional study was carried out for a period one year. The participants selected from the outpatients of nephrology department in a 750-bedded tertiary care hospital in the Malabar region of south India. Patients were provided with a standard validated modified Morisky eight item questionnaire and self-reporting questionnaire assessing medication adherence before and after intervention. The intervention mainly in the form of patient counseling and patient information leaflet was carried out using a proper management plan and with the help of physician and feedback information was collected. Results: Statistically significant association exist between medication adherence before and after intervention (p <0.001). Medication adherence behavior of study subjects has a significant association with age, sex, education and stage of chronic kidney disease. Pharmaceutical interventions impart a significant improvement in the medication adherence behavior. Cost of the treatment, low family income and drug therapy burden have been reported as a main reason for non-adherence. Individual patients have their own preferences for dosage form, frequency of administration, food time etc. Conclusion: The study suggests that the periodic counseling by clinical pharmacist at regular intervals can improve the medication adherence by improving awareness and removing the misconceptions about the disease and therapy.
Key words: CKD, Medication adherence, Drug therapy, Patient counseling and Patient information leaflet.
