Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Medication non-adherence is a major healthcare problem that negatively impacts the health and productivity of individuals and society as a whole. Reasons for medication non-adherence are multi-faced, with no clear-cut solution. Adherence to medication remains a difficult area to study, due to inconsistencies in representing medicationadherence behavior data that poses a challenge to humans and today’s computer technology related to interpreting and synthesizing such complex information. Developing a consistent conceptual framework to medication adherence is needed to facilitate domain understanding, sharing, and communicating, as well as enabling researchers to formally compare the findings of studies in systematic reviews. The goal of this research is to create a common language that bridges human and computer technology by developing a controlled structured vocabulary of medication adherence behavior—“Medication Adherence Behavior Ontology” (MAB-Ontology) using breast cancer as a case study to inform and evaluate the proposed ontology and demonstrating its application to real-world situation. The intention is for MAB-Ontology to be developed against the background of a philosophical analysis of terms, such as belief, and desire to be human, computer-understandable, and interoperable with other systems that support scientific research. The design process for MAB-Ontology carried out using the METHONTOLOGY method incorporated with the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO) principles of best practice. This approach introduces a novel knowledge acquisition step that guides capturing medication-adherence-related data from different knowledge sources, including adherence assessment, adherence determinants, adherence theories, adherence taxonomies, and tacit knowledge source types. These sources were analyzed using a systematic approach that involved some questions applied to all source types to guide data extraction and inform domain conceptualization. A set of intermediate representations involving tables and graphs was used to allow for domain evaluation before implementation. The resulting ontology included 629 classes, 529 individuals, 51 object property, and 2 data property. The intermediate representation was formalized into OWL using Protégé. The MAB-Ontology was evaluated through competency questions, use-case scenario, face validity and was found to satisfy the requirement specification. This study provides a unified method for developing a computerized-based adherence model that can be applied among various disease groups and different drug categories.

<p>Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a resurgent disease in many parts of the world, fuelled by HIV/AIDS and poverty. According to WHO, over two billion people were estimated to be infected by TB globally, 9.4 million new cases of TB were reported, while about 1.7 million people were estimated to have lost their lives to TB in 2009 (WHO, 2010). The&nbsp / global defaulter rate for TB was estimated at about 9% in 2007 (WHO, 2007). With Africa remaining the global epicentre of the TB epidemic, the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa,&nbsp / one of the worst affected areas in the world, shows no evidence of decline (WHO, 2008). According to the 2009 MOHSS annual report, 1300 people lost their lives to TB in&nbsp / Namibia (MOHSS, 2010). The introduction of TB treatment saves many lives globally. However, despite this effort, TB patients have been reported to default treatment in many&nbsp / parts of the world including Namibia. Namibia reported a defaulter rate of 10% above the national target of less than 5% (Maletsky, 2008). Aim: This study aimed to investigate&nbsp / the factors that contribute to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients at a major health centre in Windhoek district, Namibia. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative study using&nbsp / in-depth interviews was conducted among ten TB defaulters. Key informant interviews were also conducted with the two TB nurses based at the health centre. Eligible&nbsp / participants were purposively selected. A thematic content analysis of transcribed data was conducted where themes related to patient&rsquo / s experiences of the illness / socio- economic / community, family, cultural and religious as well as health system factors were drawn out. Results: The study results indicate that defaulting TB treatment is a big challenge to TB management. The reasons for defaulting given by respondents were complex and included patient factors such as medication related factors, lack of knowledge and information as well as alcohol abuse. The findings also revealed unemployment as a major socio-economic factor that contributes to defaulting. In addition, the study shows that community, family, religious and cultural factors such as poor family support, work-related factors and religious and cultural beliefs have an influence on defaulting. Accessibility to health care services, sharing of the TB department with ART patients and attitudes of health workers were identified as health service&nbsp / factors that influence treatment defaulting. This study also highlights the relationship between some of these factors. Conclusion: The study concludes that no single factor contributed to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients in the selected health centre in&nbsp / Windhoek district and this concurred with the literature. There are many different factors at different levels that have an influence on TB treatment defaulting. An interrelationship between personal, socio- economic, community, family, religious and cultural as well as health services- related factors was evident What makes it more complex is that these&nbsp / factors also impact on each other and therefore a holistic approach in the management of TB is required to address these factors. Recommendations based on the findings of the&nbsp / study are made. </p>

<p>Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a resurgent disease in many parts of the world, fuelled by HIV/AIDS and poverty. According to WHO, over two billion people were estimated to be infected by TB globally, 9.4 million new cases of TB were reported, while about 1.7 million people were estimated to have lost their lives to TB in 2009 (WHO, 2010). The&nbsp / global defaulter rate for TB was estimated at about 9% in 2007 (WHO, 2007). With Africa remaining the global epicentre of the TB epidemic, the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa,&nbsp / one of the worst affected areas in the world, shows no evidence of decline (WHO, 2008). According to the 2009 MOHSS annual report, 1300 people lost their lives to TB in&nbsp / Namibia (MOHSS, 2010). The introduction of TB treatment saves many lives globally. However, despite this effort, TB patients have been reported to default treatment in many&nbsp / parts of the world including Namibia. Namibia reported a defaulter rate of 10% above the national target of less than 5% (Maletsky, 2008). Aim: This study aimed to investigate&nbsp / the factors that contribute to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients at a major health centre in Windhoek district, Namibia. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative study using&nbsp / in-depth interviews was conducted among ten TB defaulters. Key informant interviews were also conducted with the two TB nurses based at the health centre. Eligible&nbsp / participants were purposively selected. A thematic content analysis of transcribed data was conducted where themes related to patient&rsquo / s experiences of the illness / socio- economic / community, family, cultural and religious as well as health system factors were drawn out. Results: The study results indicate that defaulting TB treatment is a big challenge to TB management. The reasons for defaulting given by respondents were complex and included patient factors such as medication related factors, lack of knowledge and information as well as alcohol abuse. The findings also revealed unemployment as a major socio-economic factor that contributes to defaulting. In addition, the study shows that community, family, religious and cultural factors such as poor family support, work-related factors and religious and cultural beliefs have an influence on defaulting. Accessibility to health care services, sharing of the TB department with ART patients and attitudes of health workers were identified as health service&nbsp / factors that influence treatment defaulting. This study also highlights the relationship between some of these factors. Conclusion: The study concludes that no single factor contributed to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients in the selected health centre in&nbsp / Windhoek district and this concurred with the literature. There are many different factors at different levels that have an influence on TB treatment defaulting. An interrelationship between personal, socio- economic, community, family, religious and cultural as well as health services- related factors was evident What makes it more complex is that these&nbsp / factors also impact on each other and therefore a holistic approach in the management of TB is required to address these factors. Recommendations based on the findings of the&nbsp / study are made. </p>

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: The incidence of tuberculosis in South Africa last measured at 834 in 2015 as reported by the World Bank. Out of these cases, only 54% cured and 13% of patients stop taking treatment. In Pretoria, Gauteng, comprehensive TB services are available in 87% of clinics and all these clinics offer the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) programme and help to diagnose TB and trace contacts. However, the average Pretoria district DOTS coverage has decreased from 88.8% to 84.7% in the last few years. The health district's cure rate as at 2012 is 61%, and its average rate of successful treatment of all new smear positive cases is 66% since 2005. Certain factors that determine patients' adherence towards TB treatment have been identified to include demographic, psychosocial and health system related factors. However, the WHO identified factors responsible for or predisposing patients to discontinue the DOTS programme have not been investigated in the study setting. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of adherence to DOTS therapy amongst TB patients who commenced TB treatment at the TB clinic of a district hospital during April – June 2014. Methodology: A quantitative study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional design. An inclusive sample was drawn from adults in the DOTS programme receiving first line treatment during the 6-month period prior to commencement of the research. The calculated sample size was 234 individuals. The data collection tools included a questionnaire, 2-day recall and 30-day recall instruments and pill counts. Data were analysed using EPI info version 7 which included descriptive statistics to measure level of adherence. Associations between identified factors and adherence to TB treatment were also determined. Results: The final sample size was 80 participants of which 76% were male. The mean composite adherence rate was found to be 94% while the proportion of the patients who achieved adherence of 95% and above was 75%. Identified barriers to adherence include forgetfulness, lack of transport fare on clinic appointment days, patients not feeling well and so were not strong enough to attend clinic appointments. On the other hand, the role of treatment supporters and counseling were found to have a positive impact on adherence to DOT in this setting. The use of reminders such as cell phones and alarm-radios were also identified as facilitators to adherence. Patients' knowledge of consequences for not taking medications as prescribed, which is closely linked with counseling, was found to be significantly associated with adherence in this study. Education status of participants was found to be significantly associated with adherence to DOTS (p = 0.01), when considering the pharmacy refill pill count as the adherence measure. Significant association was found between DOTS treatment regimens and 30-day recall adherence measures (p = 0.002). Significant association was also found for medication side effects and the adherence measures of 2-day recall, 30-day recall and pill count with p = 0.04; p = 0.03; p = 0.05 respectively There were significant associations between age and adherence with two of the adherence measures (30-day recall and pill count) at p = 0.002 and p = 0.003 level of significance respectively. Significant association was observed between duration of DOTS treatment when dichotomised using the mean treatment period (17 weeks) as the cut-off point and any of the adherence measures. Conclusion: The factors identified in this study can be classified into patient related factors, economic factors, social factors and health care workers and health system related factors. Furthermore, the factors at these different levels impact on one another and their improvements need to be made at all these levels to address the challenges facing TB patients to achieve optimal treatment adherence. This study is the first study of its kind in the study location and the findings have provided useful baseline data on the adherence rates and some insights into the major factors that affect adherence among patients on DOTS at a Pretoria West District Hospital. However further qualitative and quantitative studies are required to explore the factors influencing adherence further.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a resurgent disease in many parts of the world, fuelled by HIV/AIDS and poverty. According to WHO, over two billion people were estimated to be infected by TB globally, 9.4 million new cases of TB were reported, while about 1.7 million people were estimated to have lost their lives to TB in 2009 (WHO, 2010). The global defaulter rate for TB was estimated at about 9% in 2007 (WHO, 2007). With Africa remaining the global epicentre of the TB epidemic, the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the worst affected areas in the world, shows no evidence of decline (WHO, 2008). According to the 2009 MOHSS annual report, 1300 people lost their lives to TB in Namibia (MOHSS, 2010). The introduction of TB treatment saves many lives globally. However, despite this effort, TB patients have been reported to default treatment in many parts of the world including Namibia. Namibia reported a defaulter rate of 10% above the national target of less than 5% (Maletsky, 2008). Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors that contribute to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients at a major health centre in Windhoek district, Namibia. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted among ten TB defaulters. Key informant interviews were also conducted with the two TB nurses based at the health centre. Eligible participants were purposively selected. A thematic content analysis of transcribed data was conducted where themes related to patient’s experiences of the illness; socio- economic; community, family, cultural and religious as well as health system factors were drawn out. Results: The study results indicate that defaulting TB treatment is a big challenge to TB management. The reasons for defaulting given by respondents were complex and included patient factors such as medication related factors, lack of knowledge and information as well as alcohol abuse. The findings also revealed unemployment as a major socio-economic factor that contributes to defaulting. In addition, the study shows that community, family, religious and cultural factors such as poor family support, work-related factors and religious and cultural beliefs have an influence on defaulting. Accessibility to health care services, sharing of the TB department with ART patients and attitudes of health workers were identified as health service factors that influence treatment defaulting. This study also highlights the relationship between some of these factors. Conclusion: The study concludes that no single factor contributed to treatment defaulting amongst TB patients in the selected health centre in Windhoek district and this concurred with the literature. There are many different factors at different levels that have an influence on TB treatment defaulting. An interrelationship between personal, socio- economic, community, family, religious and cultural as well as health services- related factors was evident What makes it more complex is that these factors also impact on each other and therefore a holistic approach in the management of TB is required to address these factors. Recommendations based on the findings of the study are made. / South Africa

AN EXPLORATORY MODEL OF MEDICATION REFILL ADHERENCE BEHAVIOR by Gayle Holmes Payne Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States with over 15.8 million Americans suffering from the chronic disease (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). Adherence to medication regimens has been identified as a key mediator between medical practice and patient outcomes (Kravitz & Melnikow, 2004). In this study, participants (N = 355) with CHD completed a questionnaire measuring their background characteristics, cognitive status, health literacy skills, self-efficacy levels, their perceived concerns and necessity beliefs about medication use, and enablers and barriers to their medication-taking behavior. Information regarding each participant’s number of medications and presence of disease was obtained from medical charts. Data regarding the dependent variable, cardiovascular medication refill adherence, were collected from pharmacy records. The data were used to see how the various variables work together in a model that explains cardiovascular medication refill adherence behavior. The study aimed to contribute to the body of adherence research by jointly examining all variables found to have an association with medication adherence through a path analysis to explain the determinants of medication refill adherence behavior. Analyses indicated that the hypothesized model did not fit the data. Additional analysis was conducted using a condensed revised model (age, self-efficacy, perceived concerns and necessity) and a self-reported measure of medication adherence (Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale) as the dependent variable. The revised model fit the data, X2(5, N = 355) = 6.71, p = .24. The revised model did not explain a statistically significant amount of the variance in medication adherence, suggesting that there may be other additional factors that may mediate the relationship between independent variables and medication refill adherence. Additional research is needed to reveal all the determinants of medication refill adherence behavior and to identify the most effective measure of adherence behavior. Given the number of people who suffer from CHD, and the often low rates of medication adherence, research that continues to explore and improve medication refill adherence will have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality rates.