Alhomoud Farah Kais, Alwohaibi Lama Wesam, Aljarrash Kawthar, Alhomoud Faten, Alamer Khalid, Alsultan Mohammed M, Alqarni Yousef, Alotaibi Noor, Alsaad Anwar Khalifah, Alqahtani Afrah Dhafer, Alkhnbashi Reem Saad
Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Pharmacy Cardiology Department, King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024 Dec 8;18:2469-2480. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S499795. eCollection 2024.
This study aimed to assess medication adherence strategies among users in Saudi Arabia, explore the prevalence and effectiveness of behavioral, technical, and organizational tools, and identify key predictors of adherence related to demographic, health, and medication characteristics.
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 Saudi residents aged ≥18 who regularly take prescription/non-prescription medications. The questionnaire was developed through a literature review, validated by academic pharmacists, and refined based on pilot testing feedback. A convenience sampling method, complemented by snowball sampling, was employed to recruit participants. Limitations like sampling bias and self-reported data emphasize the need for broader studies. Quantitative analysis was performed using IBM SPSS.
Participants were predominantly young adults (84%) and females (84%), with 54% reporting being healthy and 46% managing chronic conditions. Behavioral strategies, such as time-based reminders, were the most commonly used (40%), followed by technical tools (33%), including mobile applications. Employment status significantly influenced adherence, with employed individuals (adjusted OR: 3.274, p = 0.028) and those working >8 hours daily (adjusted OR: 9.838, p = 0.049) exhibiting higher adherence. Fieldwork negatively impacted adherence (adjusted OR: 0.052, p = 0.007). While other demographic and health factors showed no significant associations, trends suggested that complex medication regimens increased the likelihood of using adherence strategies.
Behavioral strategies, such as time- and location-based reminders, and technical tools, like apps, effectively improved medication adherence. Healthcare providers should promote simple, cost-effective methods, such as pillboxes and mobile reminders, tailored to patient needs. Addressing adherence barriers for individuals with demanding/unexpected schedules or complex regimens through targeted interventions and awareness campaigns is essential. Future research should explore these strategies' scalability and long-term impact in diverse healthcare settings.
本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯使用者的用药依从性策略，探讨行为、技术和组织工具的普及率及有效性，并确定与人口统计学、健康状况和药物特征相关的依从性关键预测因素。
对250名年龄≥18岁、定期服用处方药/非处方药的沙特居民进行了描述性横断面研究。该问卷通过文献综述编制而成，经学术药剂师验证，并根据预试验反馈进行完善。采用便利抽样法并辅以滚雪球抽样法招募参与者。诸如抽样偏差和自我报告数据等局限性凸显了开展更广泛研究的必要性。使用IBM SPSS进行定量分析。
参与者主要为年轻成年人（84%）和女性（84%），54%的人报告身体健康，46%的人患有慢性病。基于时间的提醒等行为策略是最常用的（40%），其次是技术工具（33%），包括移动应用程序。就业状况对依从性有显著影响，就业者（调整后的比值比：3.274，p = 0.028）和每天工作超过8小时的人（调整后的比值比：9.838，p = 0.049）的依从性更高。野外工作对依从性有负面影响（调整后的比值比：0.052，p = 0.007）。虽然其他人口统计学和健康因素未显示出显著关联，但趋势表明，复杂的药物治疗方案增加了使用依从性策略的可能性。
基于时间和地点的提醒等行为策略以及应用程序等技术工具有效地提高了用药依从性。医疗保健提供者应推广简单、经济有效的方法，如适合患者需求的药盒和移动提醒。通过有针对性的干预措施和宣传活动来解决日程安排苛刻/意外或治疗方案复杂的个体的依从性障碍至关重要。未来的研究应探讨这些策略在不同医疗环境中的可扩展性和长期影响。
