A STUDY ON THE LEVEL OF DRUG COMPLIANCE AMONG THE OUTPATIENTS WHO ARE ON A LONG-TERM DRUG THERAPY IN A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL AT KANCHEEPURAM DISTRICT IN TAMILNADU

ABSTRACTObjectives: To evaluate the drug compliance level among the patients attending the outpatient department of Shri Sathya Sai Medical College Hospitalusing Morisky 8-item drug compliance questionnaire and to determine the factors which hinder them from adhering to physician’s prescription.Methods: 100 patients who were on long-term drug treatment on outpatient basis were selected. Following that, Morisky 8-item drug compliancequestionnaire, a self-reported scale of medication adherence was used. Along with the mentioned questions, a few questions to assess factors causingnoncompliancy and their knowledge on drug compliance were included. Data were collected and based on the scale, the level of compliance, i.e., low,medium or high was estimated. Patients found noncompliant, factors hindering them from being noncompliant were assessed.Results: Among the 100 patients, 33% belonged to low adherence group, 44% to medium adherence group, and 23% to high adherence group.Patients belonging to low and medium adherence group were segregated and their individual questionnaire was assessed and reason for beingnoncompliant analyzed. The majority of the low adherence group said that they discontinue treatment once they feel that their symptoms were undercontrol.Conclusion: Drug noncompliance is an important factor for treatment failure. The importance of medication adherence was re-emphasized to thosepatients who belonged to low/medium adherence group.Keywords: Morisky, Drug compliance, Shri Sathya Sai, Low adherence.