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. 2022 Aug 8:16:2021-2030.
doi: 10.2147/PPA.S363082. eCollection 2022.

Medication Adherence Among Geriatric Patients with Chronic Diseases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Y Alhabib #  1 , Taha S Alhazmi  1 , Saad M Alsaad #  1 , Alhanouf S AlQahtani  2 , Aisha A Alnafisah  3
Affiliations

Medication Adherence Among Geriatric Patients with Chronic Diseases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Y Alhabib et al. Patient Prefer Adherence. .

Abstract

Background: Medication non-adherence is a common and significant public health problem, especially among the geriatric population. This study's objective was to measure medication adherence and associated factors among geriatric patients with chronic diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional study targeted outpatient geriatrics who suffer from chronic diseases at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Telephone interviews were utilized to collect data from participants using a structured questionnaire and the GMAS validated instrument scale (General Medication Adherence Scale) intended to measure important determinants impacting adherence: patient behaviour, cost, comorbidity, and pill burden.

Results: A total of 422 patients were assessed for medication adherence. The Mean overall score for GMAS was 29.9±3.1 out of 33. (64.9%) of the patients had a high level of medication adherence. The patients had a high adherence on the domain of patient behavior related non-adherence (PBNA) (13.5±1.9) out of 15, a high adherence on the domain of additional disease and pill burden (ADPB) (11.2±1.4) out of 12, and good to high adherence on the cost-related non-adherence (CRNA) (5.25±1.1) out of 6.

Conclusion: The geriatric population with chronic diseases in our study had a good level of adherence to medication if compared with other international figures. To promote better medication adherence, patients must have a good understanding of their disease and strong beliefs about the medications prescribed.

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; frailty; hospitalized; older patients; prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Level of medication adherence.
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