ABSTRACT
Background: Medication adherence is a critical factor in the management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, and hypertension. Poor medication adherence can lead to a number of negative consequences, including worsening of the disease, increased risk of complications, and even death.
Aim: To evaluate medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).
Method: A sample size of 267 respondents was calculated, considering the target population of patients with chronic conditions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). A total of 290 questionnaires were administered, and 267 were effectively completed, resulting in a response rate of 86.7%.
Result: The majority of respondents were aged 46-55 (53.6%), the most common chronic condition was hypertension (58.4%), majority of respondents had been diagnosed with their chronic condition for less than 5 years (62.9%). 47.6% of respondents reported sometimes forgetting to take their medication, 42.7% of respondents reported being careless at times about taking their medication, 33% of respondents reported sometimes stopping their medication when they felt better, 29.6% of respondents reported sometimes stopping their medication if they felt worse when taking it.
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that there is a significant need to improve medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The high prevalence of forgetting to take medication, being careless about taking medication, and stopping medication when feeling better or worse are all concerning.
