Patients' Preference for Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Does It Affect Medication Adherence? A Cross-Sectional Study in Community Pharmacies

Liknaw Workie Limenh; Tewodros Ayalew Tessema; Wudneh Simegn; Wondim Ayenew; Zemenu Wube Bayleyegn; Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie; Gashaw Sisay Chanie; Eneyew Talie Fenta; Alemante Tafese Beyna; Asmamaw Emagn Kasahun

doi:10.2147/PPA.S456117

Patients' Preference for Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms: Does It Affect Medication Adherence? A Cross-Sectional Study in Community Pharmacies

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024 Mar 26:18:753-766. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S456117. eCollection 2024.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
² Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Dosage forms (DF), which are primarily divided into solid, semisolid, liquid, and gaseous, are among the different factors that influence drug adherence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate how patients' preferences for pharmaceutical DF affected their adherence to medication in community pharmacies in Gondar town.

Methods: A cross-sectional study on community pharmacies was carried out from June 25 to July 27, 2023. The statistical package for social sciences, version 26, was used for data analysis. Factors associated with patient medication discontinuation were found using both bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions.

Results: According to our study, the majority of respondents (42.4%) preferred tablet DF. Most respondents (63.9%) DF preference was affected by the size of the medication, in which small-sized were most preferable (59.6%). The oral route of administration was the most preferable (71.2%). The majority of the respondents (59.9%) had a history of discontinuation of medicines. Being male (AOR=2.21, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.79), living in rural areas (AOR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.83), types of DF (AOR=4.59, 95% CI: 1.28, 16.52), high frequency of administration (AOR=2.22, 95% CI: 1.08, 4.57), high cost of medication (AOR=3.09, 95% CI: 1.69, 5.68), getting some improvement from illness (AOR=3.29, 95% CI: 1.10, 9.87), and high number of drugs (AOR=3.29, 95% CI: 1.67, 13.85) were significantly associated with medication discontinuation.

Conclusion: Our findings showed that tablet dosage forms, oral routes of administration, and once-daily taking of medicines were the most preferred by our respondents. Being male, living in rural areas, types of DF, high frequency of administration, high cost of medication, getting some improvement from illness, and high number of drugs were significantly associated with medication discontinuation. This provides an insight into what to consider when prescribing medicine to enhance patients' adherence and overall therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: adherence; associated factors; dosage form preference; routes of administration.

Grants and funding

Funding is not available to report.