Evidence mapPaperPMID 40545304Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Treatment burden and medication adherence among older patients in comprehensive specialised hospitals in the Amhara Region in Ethiopia: a multicentre, cross-sectional study.

Samuel Berihun Dagnew, Tilaye Arega Moges, Getachew Yitayew Tarekegn, Samuel Agegnew Wondm, Abraham Nigussie Assefa, Mulugeta Ashagie Bekahegn, Woretaw Sisay Zewdu

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Samuel Berihun DagnewClinical Pharmacy, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia samuelberihun12@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8938-4551
Tilaye Arega MogesClinical Pharmacy, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6813-8792
Getachew Yitayew TarekegnClinical Pharmacy, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8678-6723
Samuel Agegnew WondmDepartment of Pharmacy, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Amhara, Ethiopia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0723-6804
Abraham Nigussie AssefaDepartment of Pharmacy, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Mulugeta Ashagie BekahegnDepartment Pediatrics and Child Health, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Woretaw Sisay ZewduDepartment of Pharmacy, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2616-4014

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDue to numerous comorbidities, complicated medical regimens and age-related difficulties, older adults frequently confront substantial treatment burdens and poor medication adherence, which could result in poor health outcomes. This study assessed the treatment burden and medication adherence among older adults in comprehensive specialised hospitals in the Amhara Region in Ethiopia.

designA multicentre hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 30 March to 30 July 2024.

settingThe study was conducted at four comprehensive specialised hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia.

participantsPatients were ≥65 years old, diagnosed with two chronic illnesses and were receiving medical attention for the relevant issue. OUTCOME MEASURES: This study employed the Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire to assess treatment burden and the General Medication Adherence Scale to assess medication adherence. Data analysis was conducted using STATA version 17. Linear and binary logistic regressions were used to analyse the dependent variables of treatment burden and medication adherence to the determining factors, respectively.

results422 patients took part in this study. Regarding treatment burden, 75% report a high burden. Of the patients, 32.20% adhered well, whereas 67.80% did not. The medication regimen complexity index (MRCI; β=0.029, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.058; p=0.047), age (β=0.027, 95% CI 0.009 to 0.044; p=0.004) and number of medications (β=0.168, 95% CI 0.045 to 0.291; p=0.007) were associated with higher treatment burden. Variables associated with medication non-adherence included rural residence (adjusted OR 2.249, 95% CI, 1.356 to 3.732; p=0.002), care provided by relatives (1.744, 1.055 to 2.883; p=0.030), moderate Charlson comorbidity index (CCI; 2.241, 1.220 to 4.117; p=0.009), severe CCI (6.953, 3.526 to 13.715; p=0.000), polypharmacy (1.615, 1.055 to 3.230; p=0.044) and treatment burden (1.501, 1.023 to 3.090; p=0.015).

conclusionOf the older adult patients enrolled in this study, three-quarters had a high treatment burden, and more than two-thirds had poor adherence. A high treatment burden was associated with age, medication use and MRCI, whereas non-adherence was associated with self-management, residency, CCI, medication use, MRCI and treatment burden.

Indexed as

Cost of IllnessHospitals, SpecialMedication AdherenceAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseCross-Sectional StudiesEthiopiaFemaleHumansMalePolypharmacySurveys and QuestionnairesAgedCardiovascular DiseaseChronic DiseaseEthiopiaGERIATRIC MEDICINEMedication Adherence

Identifiers

PMID40545304
PMCPMC12184347

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.