Paraskevi Theofilou

Title : Health related quality of life in chronic disease patients: The association with medication adherence and duration of treatment

Abstract:

The definition of adherence, the quantification as well as the causes and effects of non-adherence have been the subject of research by the scientific community for many years. More specifically, the scientific articles focus on the concepts of adherence, compliance, persistence and agreement with treatment (concordance). According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, the term “non adherence” encompasses a variety of voluntary and involuntary behaviours, which lead either to a higher or to a lower one receiving the recommended treatment. Low compliance rates in pharmaceuticals treatment are a growing problem, especially in chronic diseases. The aim of the present study is to examine the association of health-related quality of life among chronic disease patients with medication adherence and duration of treatment. The psychometric tools which were used is the MVQOLI-15 for the evaluation of quality of life as well as the SEAMS questionnaire for the measurement of medication adherence. Sixty - five patients were recruited including 26 males and 39 females with a mean age of 71,92 (±8,59). The results showed that the total score of medication adherence (SEAMS) was positively and statistically significant correlated to the health-related quality of life and specifically to the dimension of function (r=0,258, p=0,038). Duration of medication treatment was also positively and statistically significant correlated to the dimension of function (r=0,288, p=0,020). The findings of the present study provide strong evidence that medication adherence and duration of medication treatment may affect health-related quality of life among chronic disease patients. 

Audience Take Away Notes:
The issue of adherence to treatment is of great importance in the field of nursing. Consequently, nurses have an important role in the management of medication adherence in chronic disease patients

Biography:

Post Doc Researcher (2016-2018, University of Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, Sparta, Greece)
Ph.D. in Health Psychology (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Psychology, Athens, Greece)
Ph.D. in Personnel Management (University of Peloponnese, Department of Nursing, Tripoli, Greece)
M.Sc. Health Services Management (Frederick University, School of Health Sciences and School of Law and Business Administration, Cyprus)
M.Sc. Social exclusion, minorities and gender (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Sociology, Athens, Greece)
Social Administration - Management of Health Services (National School of Public Administration, Athens, Greece)
B.Sc. in Psychology (Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Department of Psychology, Athens, Greece)
B.Sc. in Social Work (Technological Educational Institute of Athens, Athens, Greece)
SCG Lab of Experimental and Applied Psychology; SCG - Scientific College of Greece, Athens, Greece
Hellenic Open University, School of Social Sciences, Patra, Greece.