MEDICATION ADHERENCE STATUS AMONG RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common disease affecting about 5 in 1,000 people in Malaysia. Medication adherence among RA patients can be as low as 30% and non-adherence of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) may result in irreversible joint damage. This study aimed to assess adherence rates and to identify potential factors influencing adherence.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Rheumatology Clinic of a tertiary hospital for 8 w from May to June 2014. A total of 51 RA patients using DMARD were recruited in this study. Researcher-assisted questionnaires were utilized. The study assessed adherence by using Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology (CQR5) and data retrieved from pharmacy dispensing records which were measured using Medication Possession Ratio (MPR). Questionnaires to assess beliefs about medicines and satisfaction about medicine information were also used. Subsequently, associations between adherence and demographics, socioeconomics, medication, disease and patient-related factors were determined.Results: The response rate was 75%. Depending on the instruments used, 75% (CQR5) and 60% (MPR) of the patients were adherent to DMARD. Non-adherence was not associated with demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics, satisfaction about medication information and medication concerns. Beliefs about the necessity of medication (r = 0.372; p = 0.007) and necessity-concerns differential (r = 0.439; p = 0.001) were moderately associated with adherence.Conclusion: Patient-related factor was associated with medication adherence in our study population. The necessity-concerns differential of medication beliefs may serve as a possible screening tool for non-adherence or target for adherence-improving intervention among RA patients.Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Medication adherence, Medication beliefs, DMAR