Medication Adherence of Antibiotics Used in Vulnerable Population at Selected Tertiary Care Hospital in Andhra Pradesh
Author(s): Amit Kumar*, S K Panda, Divya S Nair, Padala Srilakshmi and Sruthi Sreenivasan
Abstract
Aim: To determine the medication adherence towards antibiotics in vulnerable populations at selected tertiary care hospital in Andhra Pradesh.
Materials and methods: This prospective study was carried out at selected tertiary care hospital. A total of 551 vulnerable inpatients were studied for medication adherence for antibiotics prescribed. The vulnerable inpatients included in the study are pediatrics, pregnant women, geriatrics and other vulnerable patients. Socio-economic status of the patients was measured using Modified Kuppuswamy socio-economic status scale 2020 and based on this scale the patients were found to be of lower middle, upper lower and lower class. In this study the medication adherence was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Hartwig scale was used to measure the ADRs. Socioeconomic status was correlated with medication adherence to measure the extent of association.
Results: Cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in patients. The average medication adherence among the population was found to be 6.54 on the scale of 8 which suggests the adherence was medium or moderate. Geriatric patients showed the lowest adherence as compared to the other groups. A total of 56 ADRs and 57 drug interactions were reported in the study
Conclusion: Medication non-adherence is depended on the patient factors and other complications that might occur. It is also depended on the socioeconomic status of the patients. Therefore, a close counselling and monitoring is also required for inpatients. This study is on inpatients which reveals non-adherence; hence we now know what to expect on the adherence among outpatients who are rarely monitored closely.
