Treatment satisfaction and medication adherence among hypertensive patients in a teaching hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates treatment satisfaction and medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending the medical outpatient clinic of a teaching hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional using quantitative research strategy. A systematic sampling technique was used in selecting 270 participants; a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, and treatment satisfaction was assessed using the 14-item Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication. Results: The study findings revealed that majority (73.7%) of the study participants had good knowledge of hypertension, while 44.4% had a good level of treatment satisfaction. Test of association of participants' sociodemographic characteristics revealed age (χ2 = 23.773, P = 0.003) and occupation (χ2 = 21.251, P = 0.019) to be significantly associated with treatment satisfaction. The level of medication adherence by the participants was observed to be relatively poor (50.4%). The educational status (χ2 = 23.914, P = 0.001) and monthly income (χ2 = 10.406, P = 0.034) of the participants showed significant association with medication adherence. Conclusion: The study recommends that improving patients' understanding of their disease and treatment with subsidizing hypertensive medications by the government will enhance medication adherence.