Medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions in Italy.
BACKGROUND
The aims of the cross-sectional study were to measure the extent of adherence to prescribed medications among patients affected by chronic diseases and to identify the predictors of the adherence.


METHODS
The study was conducted between March and December 2014 among 633 outpatients in four hospitals in Italy. Data were collected using a face to face interview at the time of their visit to the hospital. The Morisky Medication Adherence 4-item Scale was used to measure patients' self-reported adherence.


RESULTS
The majority of the patients were male (51.7%), the mean age was 63.2 years, one-third had at least a high school diploma or equivalent, 34.6% was employed, and the main diseases were hypertension, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A total of 39.3% patients reported themselves as being adherent to medications over the 4 weeks preceding their medical specialist's visit. Patients were more likely to adhere to medications if they had a college degree or higher level of education, a higher score of the Katz index, took a lower number of total pills per day, and did not use pill organizers. Patients who have never forgotten to take medications over the 4 weeks preceding their medical specialist's visit were 46.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings emphasize the need for improving information for the individuals affected by chronic diseases concerning the risks of non-adherence in order to encourage responsible behaviour to prescribed medications.
Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Luciano Armanni, 5, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Francesco
F
Napolitano
Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Luciano Armanni, 5, 80138 Naples, Italy.
Paola
P
Napolitano
Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Via Luciano Armanni, 5, 80138 Naples, Italy italof.angelillo@unina2.it.
Italo Francesco
IF
Angelillo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring