BACKGROUND

Medication non-adherence is a significant public health concern in managing patients with chronic diseases, and community pharmacists are on the frontline in the management of chronic medications. Chronic diseases require lifelong pharmacotherapy and understanding the determinants of medication adherence has paramount importance to develop strategies that improve medication adherence and treatment outcomes. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude of medication non-adherence and its contributing factors among patients with chronic diseases attending community pharmacies in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted at community pharmacies in South Gondar Zone from September 01 to October 30, 2023. Medication adherence was assessed using a structured questionnaire using the Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale (ACDS). Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 was used for analysis. Association between the outcome variable and independent variables was performed using binary logistic regression and a -value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Among three hundred and eighty six (386) study participants recruited in this study, more than half of them 222 (57.51%, 95%CI: 52.4% - 62.5%) were low adherent to their medications. Concerning determinants of medication non-adherence; the presence of side effects (AOR =2.1, 95%CI=1.33-3.29), unable to get ever counseling from community pharmacists (AOR=2.3, 95%CI= 1.46-3.58), and poor about their medications (AOR=3.1, 95% CI= 1.96-4.82) were significantly associated with patients' non-adherence to medications.

CONCLUSION

The medication adherence level in this study was suboptimal, with a significant proportion of the patients being non-adherent to their medications. The presence of side effects, unable to get ever counseling, and poor knowledge about their medications were statistically significant factors of poorer medication adherence. Hence, healthcare professionals, especially community pharmacists, have a crucial role in designing the schedule for health education concerning the needs of these patients in community pharmacy settings.