Patient awareness of their medical treatment and following doctor's recommendations.

Aim of the study: To study patients 'awareness of their medication and adherence to physicians' recommendations. Objectives: 1. To study patients' opinions about the information provided to them by doctors in connection with medical treatment; 2. To study the behavior of patients in relation to following the recommendations given by doctors; 3. Compare patients' perceptions of information provided by physicians and adherence to recommendations by socio-demographic characteristics. Methods: the method of epidemiological research chosen for the study is instantaneous research. The chosen method of data collection was an anonymous questionnaire. The purpose of the anonymous questionnaire is to find out patients' awareness of their medication and to follow the recommendations given by doctors. During the study, patients from the internal medicine and cardiology departments of Kaunas City Hospital X were interviewed. 370 questionnaires were used for data analysis. The analysis of the research data was performed using the methods of descriptive statistics. Results: More than half of patients who seek illness first seek medical attention, and more than half of patients are aware of the names and effects of the medications prescribed to them. For most patients, doctors explain how to take the medication, but only less than half explain the expected effect, contraindications, behavior when feeling better or worse, and more than half do not provide information about possible side effects. Men are significantly more likely to receive information from doctors about how to take medications, about their expected effect, contraindications, side effects. Accordingly, men are significantly more likely than women to report sufficient information from physicians. However, it rarely or never explains the compatibility of prescribed medications and possible drug side effects. Half of the patients in the study rarely or never take medicines without a doctor's prescription, slightly more than half state that they follow the instructions of all doctors, use the medicine for the entire indicated period, are careful , do not increase or omit drug doses at their discretion. The main reasons why patients do not buy medicines are: disappeared health problems, excessive cost of medicine and distrust of a doctor. Men more often and women do not know the names of the prescribed medications, but more often they know their effects. Men are significantly more likely to report that they receive information from doctors about how to take medications, about their expected effect, contraindications, side effects. Patients without higher education are more likely to report that they are unaware of the effects of medications prescribed to them, but are aware of the names of the medications prescribed to them. Patients without higher education are more likely to report that doctors explain to them the contraindications to the expected effect, side effects, but do not provide information on drug compatibility. Meanwhile, those with higher education are more likely to report that a doctor explains how to use medications when prescribing them. Patients aged 65 to 86 are statistically more likely to report unaware of the effects of the medication being administered, but are statistically more likely to report being aware of the names of the medication being prescribed. Doctors are also more likely to tell them when to take medication. At 25-44 years, patients were statistically significantly more likely to report information from physicians on how to use medication, but did not receive information on side effects, contraindications, and compatibility. Women are statistically significantly more likely to report that they always purchase medications prescribed by doctors and rarely or never take medications not prescribed by a doctor. Men increase the dose of the drug significantly more often than women, stop taking the drug when they feel better or worse. Men are statistically significantly more likely not to buy medicines due to distrust of a doctor or personal beliefs, while women are more likely to buy medicines due to excessive prices and forgetfulness of medicines. Patients without higher education are statistically more likely to report that they always or almost always purchase medication prescribed by a doctor, always follow the doctor's instructions, take medication for the entire prescribed course, and continue to take medication when they feel better. Meanwhile, those with higher education are more likely to adjust their medication according to their well-being, sometimes to increase their dose, and not to take medication because their health problems disappear or they forget to buy them. Conclusions: 1. The majority of respondents indicate that they are informed about prescription medicines by doctors, while non-prescription medicines are provided primarily by pharmacists, the Internet and doctors. Slightly more than half of the study participants say they know the names of the medicines prescribed to them and their effects. The majority of respondents say that doctors always or almost always explain to them how to take medication, slightly less than half say that they receive information about the expected effect, contraindications and how to act when their well-being improves or worsens. However, they rarely or never receive information about drug compatibility and possible side effects. Only half of the respondents indicated that they had enough information about the medication provided by doctors. 2. Half of the patients in the study rarely or never take over-the-counter medications, slightly more than half state that they follow all doctors' instructions, take the medication for the entire specified period, are careful with the medication instructions, do not increase or omit the medication. The main reasons why patients do not buy medicines are: gone health problems, the price of the medicine is too high and distrust of the doctor. 3. Men and patients with higher education are more likely than others not to know the names of the medicines they are prescribed, but are significantly more likely to be aware of their effects. Men and non-tertiary patients are significantly more likely to report receiving information from physicians on how to take medications, their expected effects, contraindications, and side effects. Physicians are more likely to explain when not to take medication for patients aged 65 to 86, 25 to 44 are more likely to tell patients how to take medication, and 45 to 64 are more likely than others to receive information about drug compatibility and expected effects. Men and non-tertiary patients are significantly more likely to report always receiving medication prescribed by physicians. Men and patients with higher education are more likely than others to increase their dose and stop taking it when they feel better and worse. Men are statistically significantly more likely to not take medication because of distrust of a doctor or personal beliefs, while women and higher education patients are more likely to forget about forgetfulness. Patients aged 65-86 are more likely to report taking the medicine exactly as prescribed by their doctor, patients aged 25-44 are significantly more likely to adjust their medicines, patients aged 45-64 are more likely to be attentive to instructions and always diligent. follow the instructions for the medicine