The Influence of Personality Traits on Reported Adherence to Medication in Individuals with Chronic Disease: An Epidemiological Study in West Sweden

Abstract

BackgroundLimited research exists exploring the influence of personality on adherence behaviour. Since non-adherence is a major obstacle in treating prevalent chronic diseases the aim was to determine whether personality traits are related to reported adherence to medication in individuals with chronic disease.Methodology/Principal FindingsIndividuals with chronic disease (n = 749) were identified in a random population sample of 5000 inhabitants aged 30–70 in two municipalities in West Sweden. Data on five personality traits, Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness to experiences, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, and medication adherence behaviour was collected by questionnaires. Statistical analyses resulted in a negative relationship between Neuroticism and medication adherence (P<0.001), while both Agreeableness (P<0.001) and Conscientiousness (P<0.001) were positively related to adherence. At high levels of Conscientiousness, low adherence was related to higher scores in Neuroticism. At high levels of Agreeableness, low adherence was related to low scores in Conscientiousness and high scores in Openness to experiences.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that multiple personality traits are of significant importance for adherence behaviour in individuals with chronic disease. The findings suggest that several personality traits may interact in influencing adherence behaviour. Personality traits could putatively be used to focus efforts to educate and support patients with high risk of low medical adherence.

Treatment adherence in Asthma and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Personality traits, Beliefs about medication and Illness perception

“…Notably, no gender differences regarding adherent behaviour were detected in any of the studies, in agreement with the larger epidemiological adherence study mentioned above on several chronic disorders, also based on MARS (Axelsson et al, 2011). In the ADHD sample, time on medication was not correlated with adherence, in line with previous findings (Gau et al, 2008), however it had a small predictive value on intentional non-adherence.…”

“…In a larger epidemiological adherence study (Axelsson et al, 2011) on chronic disorders, also comprising asthma (11.5%), the mean score of MARS was higher than demonstrated in the asthma samples included in this thesis. The most probable reason for this is the acknowledged difference in adherence across diseases (Sabaté, 2003) making direct comparisons complicated although a similar observation of lower adherence in asthma than in somatic disorders has been reported previously by .…”

“…There is a growing body of evidence showing that personality traits affect adherence (Axelsson, 2013;Axelsson et al, 2011;Cheung et al, 2014;Skinner, Bruce, Davis, & Davis, 2014;van de Ven et al, 2013). In asthma, Conscientiousness has been identified as a possible determinant of adherence (Axelsson, Ekerljung, Lundback, & Lotvall, 2016;Cheung et al, 2014).…”

“…Regarding person factors, the individual's personality and beliefs play a role. Personality traits have been shown to affect adherence to medication in lifelong conditions (Axelsson, Brink, Lundgren, & Lotvall, 2011;Cheung, LeMay, Saini, & Smith, 2014;van de Ven, Witteman, & Tiggelman, 2013).…”

Treatment compliance and retention in care among out-patient clients in a tertiary health institution in plateau state North Central Nigeria

“…6,7 Compliance with prescribed treatment and retention in care are key components in the management of chronic diseases which is vital in averting the long term complications that could arise from such conditions. [8][9][10] In view of the projections of continuous increase in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and other NCDs with its attendant morbidity and mortality. 11,12 It became imperative to study level of treatment compliance and retention in care among patients with hypertension and diabetes in Jos university teaching hospital so as to gain evidence based insight into what is currently obtainable from the perspective of the end users.…”