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Adherence of patients to long-term medication: a cross-sectional study of antihypertensive regimens in Austria

No / Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate
adherence and causes for non-adherence to antihypertensive
therapy in Austrian patients. A special focus was
placed on social parameters and behavioural theories.
Methods Patients were invited via advertisements
in community pharmacies in Austria to complete an
online survey. Inclusion criteria were an age of 18 years
or older, a diagnosis of arterial hypertension and a current
prescription of antihypertensive medication. Adherence
was measured by the four-item Morisky scale.
Non-adherence was defined by at least one point in the
Morisky scale. Several demographic, social and behavioural
parameters were analysed as potential co-variables
associated with adherence.
Results A total of 323 patients completed the online
survey, of which 109 (33.7 %) met the criteria for nonadherence.
In a multivariable model, self-efficacy and
age were associated with adherence, whereas intention
and barriers were linked to non-adherence; 56 patients
(17.3 %) were classified as intentionally non-adherent.
Conclusion This study demonstrates that non-adherence
affects an important proportion of patients in the
treatment of arterial hypertension. Young age was a particularly
important risk factor for non-adherence, and
this patient population is, therefore, in need of special
attention. Modifiable risk factors were identified that
could help improving the treatment of arterial hypertension
and potentially other chronic conditions. / European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013 ‘Ascertaining Barriers to Compliance (ABC) project’ under grant agreement number 223477.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/16141
Date24 April 2015
CreatorsLotsch, F., Auer-Hackenberg, L., Groger, M., Rehman, K., Morrison, V., Holmes, E., Parveen, Sahdia, Plumpton, C., Clyne, W., de Geest, S., Dobbels, F., Vrijens, B., Kardas, P., Hughes, D., Ramharter, M.
Source SetsBradford Scholars
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle, No full-text in the repository

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