Study of Adherence Level and the Relationship Between Treatment Adherence, and Superstitious Thinking Related to Health Issues Among Chronic Disease Patients in Southern Jordan: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: For disease management, numerous drugs are prescribed. However, long-term treatment adherence is still unsatisfactory. Culture influences beliefs regarding medication, particularly irrational ideas that affect treatment adherence. The Middle East, notably Jordan, is affected by a lack of awareness of these attitudes with regard to treatment adherence.

Objective: Investigating the adherence level among patients with chronic diseases in southern Jordan. To determine whether certain demographic traits, different disease factors, and superstitions have any impact on treatment adherence.

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study that assessed treatment adherence and superstitious thinking-related health issues were conducted among chronic disease patients who had reviewed intrinsic medicine clinics at the Karak governmental hospital.

Results: For 314 participants, treatment adherence was categorized into three levels low-adherent patients made up 27.7% highly-adherent patients made up 49.4%, and the remaining adhered at a medium level. Treatment non-adherence was more common in the elderly and female, according to the chi-square analysis. Additionally, the classification of superstitious beliefs into three categories revealed that different percentages of the study population held low superstitious beliefs 21%, medium superstitions 54.1% and high superstitions 24.8% beliefs. The chi-square analysis revealed that the elderly, female, and low-educated patient groups were the highest in superstitious thinking. Multiple regression analysis revealed that educational level and superstitious thinking explained 0.223 of the treatment adherence variances. Treatment adherence is positively influenced by educational level β (0.244) value, but superstitious thinking is negatively influenced by β (-0.302) value.

Conclusion: In conclusion, about half of the participants highly adhered. The results of the multiple-regression analysis indicate that superstition and education were two variables that impacted treatment adherence in this study. While superstitious beliefs lead to lower treatment adherence, education has the opposite effect. Finally, it is recommended to promote patient education to reduce superstitious beliefs, improve medication adherence.

Keywords: Jordan; chronic diseases; superstitious thinking; treatment adherence; treatment nonadherence.