Medication adherence in epilepsy and potential risk factors associated with non adherence in tertiary care teaching hospital in southwest Ethiopia

Medication non-adherence to antiepileptic medications is detrimental to the perceived outcome of treatment. Non-adherence to medication regimen accounts for substantial worsening of disease, death and increased health care costs. In this study, we aimed to determine adherence rate to antiepileptic medications and identify the potential risk factors associated with non-adherence in Jimma University Specialized Hospital/JUSH. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 patients using patients self report and pharmacy refill record. The self report involved the structured patient interview after verbal informed consent was obtained. Data were analyzed using SPSS for windows version 16.0. Chi-square test was used to observe the association of variables with adherence. The adherence rate of patients (n=265) to antiepileptic drugs/AED was found to be 63.2% based on their refill records, compliant fill rate. On the basis of patient's self report for their pattern of drug use, 155 (58.5%) patients reported that they had never missed (neither daily dose nor time of taking), 78 (29.4%) missed daily dose some times, 12 (4.5%) missed only time of taking, and 7.5% (n=20) missed both time of taking and daily dose sometimes. The most common reasons for missing dose were forgetfulness (31.8%) followed by being busy (20.9%). Sedation (39.4%) was the commonest side effect faced by the patient. The rate of adherence absorbed in this study was low. Pill burden, co-morbid conditions and appointment missing were found to affect adherence. The high rate of non-adherence, in this study calls for further research and due consideration in planning appropriate strategies to improve the existing conditions.