Barriers to Medication Adherence among Hypertensive Patients in Deprived Rural Areas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Poor adherence to medication regimen leads topoor health outcomes, increased medical costs and increased deathrate due to hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluatebaseline barriers to medication adherence among hypertensivepatients in deprived rural areas.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 238hypertensive patients living in deprived rural areas of Iran. Datawere collected using a questionnaire consisting of demographicinformation, Morisky medication adherence scale and the barriersto medication adherence that were reliable and valid.

RESULTS: The results of the study showed that medicationadherence was significantly decreased and had a significantpositive correlation with gender and economic status, while it had anegative correlation with age. Medication Adherence had a positivecorrelation with the duration of hypertension, while it had anegative correlation with the number of medications used andconcurrently with other diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present study it can be concludedthat enhanced knowledge about illness and treatment in ruralcommunities is improves the medical adherence. Financialsupports along with the reduced number of prescribed drugs arealso found to be the determining factors in the medical adherence.