Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Mar 28;13(3):e0193995.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193995. eCollection 2018.

Factors influencing long-term medication non-adherence among diabetes and hypertensive patients in Ghana: A qualitative investigation

Roger A Atinga  1 , Lily Yarney  1 , Narissa Minta Gavu  2
Affiliations

Factors influencing long-term medication non-adherence among diabetes and hypertensive patients in Ghana: A qualitative investigation

Roger A Atinga et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Evidence remains limited on why diabetes and hypertensive patients admitted to long-term drug therapy miss doses or discontinue medication taking. We examined this phenomenon from the perspective of diabetes and hypertension patients at a Ghanaian teaching hospital.

Methods: Between July and December 2015, we conducted a qualitative study targeting caregivers and their patients with chronic diabetes and hypertensive on re-admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital due to non-adherence to prescribed medication. Participants were sampled purposefully and taking through in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Notes and audio recordings of interviews were transcribed, managed and coded for themes guided by the thematic network analysis recommended by Attride-Stirling.

Results: Non-adherence was the result of perceptions that the medications are not effective for managing the conditions. Patients with these perceptions rejected the medications and turned to herbal medicines and spiritual healing as therapeutic alternatives, because of their easy accessibility, perceived efficacy and affordability. Other factors identified to influence non-adherence included polypharmacy practice; tight work schedules; social norms; poor prescription instruction by health providers; and knowledge and experience of medication.

Conclusion: Findings suggests the need for health providers to adopt therapeutic approaches that take into account patients' beliefs, values and norms in administering medications. Sensitisation of patients and caregivers during admission on the implication of non-adherence, as well as interventions that monitor and provide feedback mechanisms on patients' medication taking behaviour holds promise for maximising diabetes and hypertensive medication adherence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. CLD of the interaction effect of perceived medication efficacy, recourses to herbal medicine and spiritual healing on non-adherence to diabetes and hypertension medication.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Akter S, Rahman MM, Abe SK, Sultana P: Prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes and their risk factors among Bangladeshi adults: a nationwide survey. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2014; 92(3):204–213A. doi: 10.2471/BLT.13.128371 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Sarki AM, Nduka CU, Stranges S, Kandala N-B, Uthman OA: Prevalence of Hypertension in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine. 2015; 94(50). - PMC - PubMed
    1. WHO: WHO fact sheet In. Geneval: WHO; 2014.
    1. Mohan V, Seedat YK, Pradeepa R: The rising burden of diabetes and hypertension in Southeast Asian and African regions: need for effective strategies for prevention and control in primary health care settings. International journal of hypertension. 2013; 2013. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lloyd-Sherlock P, Beard J, Minicuci N, Ebrahim S, Chatterji S: Hypertension among older adults in low-and middle-income countries: prevalence, awareness and control. International journal of epidemiology. 2014; 43(1):116–128. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyt215 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Substances