Medication beliefs predict medication adherence in ambulatory patients with decompensated cirrhosis

AIM: To investigate the impact of medication beliefs, illness perceptions and quality of life on medication adherence in people with decompensated cirrhosis. METHODS: patient history and review of medical records. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and stepwise backwards regression techniques were used to construct the multivariable logistic regression model. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Multivariable analysis identified having stronger medication concerns relative to necessity beliefs (Necessity-Concerns Differential ≤ 5, OR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.18-11.40) and more frequent shortness of breath (shortness of breath score ≤ 3, OR = 3.87, 95%CI: 1.22-12.25) as independent predictors of "Low"adherence. CONCLUSION: The association between "Low" adherence and patients having strong concerns or doubting the necessity or helpfulness of their medications should be explored further given the clinical relevance.