Key Points
- To evaluate the level of adherence to antihypertensive medications and identify its determinants among adult hypertensive patients attending referral hospital chronic illness clinics in Northwest Ethiopia.
- Conducted an institution-based cross-sectional study from March to April 2016 among 409 systematically sampled adult hypertensive patients across three referral hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.
- Assessed adherence using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (score ≥6 defined as adherent, <6 as non-adherent) via interviewer-administered questionnaires.
- Identified factors associated with adherence using bivariate analysis and backward multivariate logistic regression with significance set at P < 0.05.
- The overall prevalence of good medication adherence among respondents was 67.2% (95% CI: 62.8 to 71.6).
- Good adherence was strongly associated with a favorable attitude toward antihypertensive medications (AOR = 9.88, 95% CI: 5.34–18.27) and a good patient-provider relationship (AOR = 4.25, 95% CI: 2.32–7.86).
- Patients had higher odds of adherence if they had one comorbidity (AOR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.34–14.12) or no comorbidities (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.01–11.31), lower medical costs (AOR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.13–3.76), and longer treatment duration (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.07–3.35).
Structured PICO
PPopulation409 adult hypertensive patients attending chronic illness clinics of three referral hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, mean age 54.5 years.
IInterventionAntihypertensive medications (assessment of adherence)
OOutcomeAdherence status assessed using the Morisky medication adherence scale (score >= 6 as adherent)patient reported
A high rate of good adherence (67.2%) to antihypertensive medications was observed, driven by favorable patient attitudes, good provider relationships, and lower medical costs.