Observational Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 28, 2017; 23(40): 7321-7331
Published online Oct 28, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i40.7321
Table 1 Demographic and clinical factors in patients with high, medium and low medication adherence n (%)
Demographic and clinical variablesAll patientsMedication adherence ranking
P value
HighMediumLow
(n = 42)(n = 37)(n = 21)
Age58.4 ± 10.257.9 ± 10.958.2 ± 9.057.8 ± 10.80.787
Male gender65 (65.0)21 (50.0)30 (81.1)14 (66.7)0.015
Primary aetiologyALD49 (48.0)19 (45.2)19 (51.4)11 (52.4)0.842
HCV35 (33.0)14 (33.3)13 (35.1)8 (38.1)0.963
Other16 (16.0)9 (21.5)5 (13.5)2 (9.5)0.383
1Child-Turcotte Pugh classA24 (24.0)6 (14.3)12 (32.4)6 (28.6)0.684
B59 (59.0)29 (69.0)21 (56.8)9 (42.8)
C17 (17.0)7 (16.7)4 (10.8)6 (28.6)
MELD score14.4 ± 5.214.6 ± 4.614.2 ± 5.114.2 ± 6.70.936
Ascites at review (incl. suppressed by medication)80 (80.0)37 (88.1)28 (75.7)15 (71.4)0.187
Encephalopathy at review (incl. suppressed by medication)36 (36.0)12 (28.6)13 (35.1)11 (52.4)0.184
Hepatocellular carcinoma8 (8.0)3 (7.1)3 (8.1)2 (9.5)1.00
Number of self-reported medicines7.1 ± 3.57.2 ± 3.77.1 ± 3.66.9 ± 3.10.923
Number of comorbidities5.5 ± 2.85.4 ± 2.85.8 ± 3.05.2 ± 2.50.703
2Unable to afford medicines19 (20.2)1 (2.5)12 (36.4)6 (28.6)< 0.001
3EducationNil, Primary, Middle school39 (42.4)14 (34.1)13 (43.3)12 (57.1)0.215
High school, Trade, University53 (57.6)27 (65.9)17 (56.7)9 (42.9)
4Employment statusEmployed18 (19.1)9 (22.0)6 (18.2)3 (14.3)0.842
Government welfare72 (76.6)30 (73.2)25 (75.8)18 (85.7)0.602
ARIAHighly accessible89 (89.0)36 (85.7)34 (91.9)19 (90.5)0.713
Accessible–remote11 (11.0)6 (14.3)3 (8.1)2 (9.5)
IRSDMost disadvantaged32 (32.0)16 (38.1)7 (18.9)9 (42.9)0.093
Low–moderate disadvantage68 (68.0)26 (68.9)30 (81.1)12 (57.1)
Table 2 Responses to the beliefs about medications questionnaires in patients with high, medium and low medication adherence
Medication beliefs domainsAll patients(n = 100)Medication adherence ranking
P value
HighMediumLow
(n = 42)(n = 37)(n = 21)
Necessity19.3 ± 3.819.6 ± 3.119.9 ± 4.117.6 ± 4.00.064
Concerns12.0 ± 3.611.2 ± 3.312.2 ± 3.313.3 ± 4.20.074
Necessity-Concerns Differential7.3 ± 4.78.4 ± 4.87.6 ± 4.24.3 ± 4.20.003
Harms8.3 ± 2.57.9 ± 2.88.3 ± 2.08.8 ± 2.70.405
Overuse10.3 ± 3.19.5 ± 3.010.7 ± 3.011.3 ± 2.90.053
Table 3 Illness perceptions in patients with high, medium and low medication adherence
Brief illness perception questionnaire itemsAll patients(n = 100)Medication adherence ranking
P value
HighMediumLow
(n = 42)(n = 37)(n = 21)
Consequences6.0 ± 3.16.1 ± 3.06.0 ± 3.15.7 ± 3.20.846
How much does your liver disease affect your life?
0 = No affect; 10 = Severely affects my life
Timeline10.0 (0-10)10 (3-10)10 (0-10)10 (3-10)0.962
How long do you think your liver disease will continue?
0 = Very short time; 10 = Forever
Personal Control4.8 ± 3.04.6 ± 3.24.8 ± 2.95.0 ± 2.80.893
How much control do you feel you have over your liver disease?
0 = Absolutely no control; 10 = Extreme amount of control
Treatment Control8.0 (0-10)8 (2-10)10 (4-10)7 (0-10)0.003
How much do you think your treatment can help your liver disease?
0 = Not at all; 10 = Extremely helpful
Identity5.5 ± 3.05.6 ± 3.05.5 ± 3.05.2 ± 2.90.905
How much do you experience symptoms from your liver disease?
0 = No symptoms; 10 = Many severe symptoms
Concern8.0 (0-10)8 (0-10)9 (0-10)8 (0-10)0.416
How concerned are you about your liver disease?
0 = Not at all; 10 = Extremely concerned
Coherence8.0 (0-10)8 (3-10)8 (0-10)7 (2-9)0.014
How well do you feel you understand your liver disease?
0 = Don’t understand at all; 10 = Understand very clearly
Emotional Representation4.9 ± 3.44.7 ± 3.25.1 ± 3.94.7 ± 3.10.874
How much does your liver disease affect you emotionally?
0 = Not at all; 10 = Extremely affected emotionally
Table 4 Health-related quality of life in patients with high, medium and low medication adherence
Quality of life domainsAll patients(n = 100)Medication adherence ranking
P value
HighMediumLow
(n = 42)(n = 37)(n = 21)
Abdominal symptoms4.7 ± 1.54.6 ± 1.45.1 ± 1.44.2 ± 1.60.063
Abdominal bloating4.5 ± 2.04.3 ± 2.04.9 ± 1.83.9 ± 2.10.109
Abdominal pain4.9 ± 1.84.8 ± 1.75.5 ± 1.54.1 ± 2.20.023
Abdominal discomfort4.4 ±1.84.7 ± 1.84.9 ± 1.74.6 ± 1.90.715
Activity4.5 ± 1.54.6 ± 1.64.5 ± 1.34.1 ± 1.50.377
Not been able to eat as much as you would like5.1 ± 1.95.0 ± 2.05.2 ± 1.65.0 ± 2.00.814
Trouble lifting or carrying heavy objects3.4 ± 2.13.8 ± 2.33.3 ± 1.92.5 ± 1.90.067
Bothered by a limitation of your diet5.0 ± 1.95.0 ± 1.95.0 ± 2.04.7 ± 2.10.824
Emotion4.3 ± 1.54.7 ± 1.34.3 ± 1.73.7 ± 1.30.050
Anxiety4.4 ± 1.94.8 ± 1.64.3 ± 2.13.8 ± 1.80.126
Unhappiness4.5 ± 1.94.8 ± 1.94.6 ± 2.13.8 ± 1.30.125
Irritability4.7 ± 1.75.0 ± 1.64.9 ± 1.83.8 ± 1.40.017
Difficulty sleeping at night3.6 ± 2.24.0 ± 2.13.4 ± 2.33.1 ± 2.20.259
Mood swings4.7 ± 1.95.1 ± 1.74.7 ± 2.13.8 ± 1.70.031
Unable to fall asleep at night3.9 ± 2.34.1 ± 2.33.7 ± 2.33.7 ± 2.30.687
Felt depressed4.6 ± 1.95.1 ± 1.84.5 ± 2.13.9 ± 1.60.058
Problems concentrating4.3 ± 1.94.5 ± 2.04.5 ± 1.93.7 ± 1.90.232
Fatigue3.2 ± 1.53.5 ± 1.63.3 ± 1.52.9 ± 1.30.340
Tired or fatigued3.0 ± 1.63.0 ± 1.63.1 ± 1.72.7 ± 1.40.622
Sleepy during the day3.2 ± 1.83.3 ± 1.93.5 ± 2.02.7 ± 1.20.255
Bothered by having decreased strength3.6 ± 2.03.9 ± 2.03.4 ± 2.03.1 ± 2.00.281
Decreased level of energy3.0 ± 1.83.2 ± 1.72.9 ± 1.82.6 ± 1.60.361
Drowsiness3.9 ± 1.74.1 ± 1.83.8 ± 1.73.6 ± 1.60.466
Systemic symptoms4.3 ± 1.34.3 ± 1.24.4 ± 1.44.0 ± 1.50.519
Bodily pain4.2 ± 2.04.2 ± 1.84.7 ± 2.23.3 ± 2.00.037
Shortness of breath4.5 ± 1.95.0 ± 1.84.4 ± 1.93.7 ± 1.80.030
Muscle cramps4.2 ± 1.94.2 ± 2.04.1 ± 1.74.2 ± 2.20.957
Dry mouth3.9 ± 2.04.0 ± 2.03.9 ± 2.03.7 ± 1.90.833
Itching4.5 ± 2.14.2 ± 2.24.6 ± 2.05.0 ± 2.10.392
Worry3.9 ± 1.84.1 ± 1.83.8 ± 2.03.6 ± 1.60.491
Worry about impact of liver disease has on family/friends3.9 ± 2.14.0 ± 2.03.9 ± 2.23.7 ± 2.20.876
Worried that symptoms will develop into major problems3.7 ± 2.14.0 ± 2.13.6 ± 2.23.1 ± 2.00.357
Worry about condition getting worse3.9 ± 2.04.1 ± 2.03.7 ± 2.13.6 ± 2.00.569
Worry about never feeling any better4.2 ± 2.24.5 ± 2.24.2 ± 2.33.8 ± 1.80.436
Table 5 Crude and multivariable predictors of low medication adherence in patients with decompensated cirrhosis
Crude
1Multivariable
P value
OR95%CIOR95%CI
Age ≥ 60 yr1.200.46-3.161.790.56-5.700.325
Gender, male1.100.40-3.040.740.21-2.580.639
Unable to afford medicines1.850.60-5.660.880.25-3.440.857
N-C Differential≤ 54.791.74-13.253.661.18-11.400.025
Overuse≥ 131.690.59-4.860.850.23-3.150.813
Brief IPQ- treatment control≤ 83.631.21-10.883.230.92-11.390.068
Brief IPQ- coherence≤ 813.621.74-106.628.150.98-67.780.052
CLDQ-bodily pain (3)QoL score ≤ 32.721.02-7.271.690.54-5.350.369
CLDQ-abdominal pain (5)QoL score ≤ 34.191.45-12.091.730.50-6.050.389
CLDQ-shortness of breath (6)QoL score ≤ 33.931.44-10.713.871.22-12.250.022
CLDQ-irritability (15)QoL score ≤ 33.121.08-9.041.700.47-6.110.416
CLDQ-mood swings (19)QoL score ≤ 32.090.75-5.820.930.24-3.580.917