Adherence to prescribed drug therapy among adult patients of General Out-Patient Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Objective: The widespread problems of adherence to medication denied substantial number of patients the maximum benefits of medical treatment, resulting in poor health outcomes, lower quality of life and increased health care costs. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of drug adherence among patients seen in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey carried out among 381 patients attending the General Out-Patient Department (GOPD) of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used as the research tool and case notes of the patients were used to obtain information on drug adherence. Results: About half of the patients 194 (50.9%) adhered fully with doctor's prescription on the use of drugs for diseases they presented to the hospital. More than three quarters (78.0%) of patients aged 56 years and above adhered fully with prescription compared with 11.1% in the age group 15-25 years. The older patients had better adherence to medication than the younger patients with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Many of the patients with no formal education (69.0%) adhered fully with prescription compared with 28.6% with post secondary education p = 0.001. Conclusion: Health education intervention and active role of health care providers in patients'-provider communication towards addressing the determinants of non-adherence will play a major role in improving adherence to medication.