[Study on the factors influencing treatment adherence in patients with chronic multimorbidity].

OBJETIVE: To analyse the factors influencing adherence to treatment and recommendations for lifestyle habits in chronic patients with multiple pathologies.

DESIGN

Multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires. SITE: Primary Care.

PARTICIPANTS

202 patients diagnosed with at least two chronic pathologies, from 23 health centres in the Region of Murcia.

INTERVENTIONS: Multivariate modelling, using log-linear analysis and logistic regression.

MAIN MEASURES: Therapeutic Adherence Scale (EAT questionnaire), perception of chronic diseases (IPQ-R questionnaire), degree of social and family support (MSPSS and APGAR-family questionnaires), age, sex, number of medications taken by patients, time since initial diagnosis of chronic disease, Charlson index.

RESULTS

In the log-linear model, the variables that showed a positive relationship with therapeutic adherence are doctor-patient relationship, coherence (understanding of the disease), emotional representation, acute/chronic duration, personal control, treatment control, and degree of social support. The logistic regression model indicated that the variables that condition therapeutic adherence are coherence, acute/chronic duration, family APGAR, and number of medications taken by the patient. Considering the doctor-patient relationship, the variable with the greatest influence on therapeutic adherence is courtesy. Other variables that condition therapeutic adherence are coherence, acute/chronic duration, family APGAR, and number of medications taken by the patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The understanding of the disease, its chronicity, the degree of family functionality, and the number of medications taken by the patient are the main factors determining therapeutic adherence. Courtesy is the most important factor in the doctor-patient relationship when it comes to treatment adherence.