A BSTRACT Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major public health challenge globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. Effective management of NCDs requires strict adherence to prescribed medications, yet non-adherence remains a significant barrier. Understanding the factors that influence medication adherence is, therefore, crucial for developing effective interventions to improve health outcomes. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of medication adherence and identify factors influencing adherence among NCD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 241 NCD patients in rural areas in the state of Bihar, India, using a semi-structured questionnaire comprise of Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) to assess adherence, Family APGAR scale to assess family support scale, and Barthel’s Index to assess functional independence. Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests were employed on IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.) to determine association. Results: Only 13% of participants were adherent to prescribed medications. Significant associations of medication adherence were observed with age ( P = 0.007), type of family ( P < 0.01), and family support ( P = 0.003). Participants over 60 years of age and from joint or extended families were more likely to adhere to their medication. Conclusion: Developing and implementing community-based strategies involving family members and caregivers, especially in LMIC, are important for improving medication adherence among NCD patients and, thereby, treatment outcome.
Debbarma et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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