title: Medication adherence to oral iron therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at investigating the factors affecting medication adherence in patients who use oral iron therapy due to iron deficiency anemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 96 female patients in fertile age with mean age of 30±10.1 years (range 18-53) who were admitted to Family Medicine Clinic between 01 January and 31 March 2015 and who had received iron therapy within the recent three years were enrolled in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the patients, 39 (40,6%) were detected not to use the medication regularly or during the recommended period. A statistically significant relationship was found between non-adherence to therapy and gastrointestinal side effects and weight gain (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medication adherence is deficient in patients with iron deficiency anemia. The most important reason for this seems gastrointestinal side effects, in addition to weight gain under treatment.
authors.affiliation: Cigdem Gereklioglu, MD. Department of Family Medicine, Baskent University Medical School, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gereklioglu
authors.affiliation: Suheyl Asma, Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Baskent University Medical School, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suheyl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asma
authors.affiliation: Asli Korur, MD. Department of Family Medicine, Baskent University Medical School, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korur
authors.affiliation: Ferit Erdogan, MD. Department of Family Medicine, Baskent University Medical School, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferit
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.affiliation: Altug Kut, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Baskent University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Altug
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kut
keywords: Iron deficiency anemia; Oral iron therapy; Side effect