The analysis of factors affecting medication adherence in patients with myasthenia gravis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Clinically, patients with myasthenia gravis are generally treated with drugs to improve their physical condition, and poor medication adherence can hinder their recovery. Many studies have shown the importance of medication adherence for effective treatment. Various factors may affect a patient’s medication adherence; however, studies concerning medication adherence in patients with myasthenia gravis are rare. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors related to medication adherence in patients with myasthenia gravis, and determine the possibility of predicting medication adherence. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among inpatients and outpatients with myasthenia gravis of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in China. Data on patient demographics, disease-related characteristics, and medical treatment were collected. We evaluated medication adherence of the patients using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire, and the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Use Scale. Results: We distributed 200 questionnaires and finally retrieved 198 valid questionnaires. A total of 139 (70.2%) women participated in this study, and 81 (40.9%) among the 198 participants were aged 40–59 years. In total, 103 (52.0%) participants exhibited bad adherence to pharmacological treatment, and factors such as taking medication irregularly [odds ratio (OR) = 0.242, 95% CI = 0.093–0.627], the necessity of taking medicine (OR = 1.286, 95% CI = 1.142–1.449), the concerns of taking medicine (OR = 0.890, 95% CI = 0.801–0.988), and the self-efficacy for taking medications under difficult circumstances (OR = 1.194, 95% CI = 1.026–1.389) had statistically significant impacts on medication adherence. Conclusion: Our study shows that taking medication irregularly and concerns of taking medicine are the risk factors for medication adherence. Meanwhile, the necessity of talking medicine and self-efficacy for taking medications under difficult circumstances are the protective factors for medication adherence. Our findings can help medical staff to enhance patients’ medication adherence by informing patients necessary medical knowledge, emphasizing the necessity for medication, relieving patients’ concerns regarding medication, and improving the self-efficacy for taking medications under difficult circumstances.