The Effect of Perceived Social Support on Frailty and Medication Adherence in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive respiratory condition associated with significant morbidity and long-term treatment requirements. Disease management is influenced not only by clinical factors but also by psychosocial determinants such as perceived social support, frailty, and medication adherence. AIMS: This study aimed to examine the relationships between perceived social support, frailty, and medication adherence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and to determine whether perceived social support was associated with frailty and medication adherence. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 126 patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics form, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Medication Adherence Report Scale, and the Edmonton Frail Scale. RESULTS: The mean perceived social support score was 48.75 ± 13.07, the mean frailty score was 8.10 ± 3.03, and the mean medication adherence score was 18.30 ± 4.20. Perceived social support was positively correlated with medication adherence (r = 0.285, p = 0.001) and negatively correlated with frailty (r = -0.421, p < 0.001). Regression analyses showed that perceived social support was significantly associated with lower frailty (B = -0.10, β = -0.42, p < 0.001) and positively associated with medication adherence (B = 0.09, β = 0.29, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Perceived social support may be an important factor associated with frailty and medication adherence in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. IMPACT: These findings highlight the importance of integrating psychosocial assessment into nursing care and support the consideration of family-centered interventions in the care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings suggest that nurses and healthcare professionals should routinely assess perceived social support in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Family involvement and psychosocially oriented nursing approaches may be considered as part of comprehensive patient care. However, the effectiveness of these approaches should be confirmed in future longitudinal and interventional studies. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients participated in the study only as respondents. They were not involved in the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation or dissemination of the research.