Illness Perception and Medication Adherence Among Patients with Primary Hypothyroidism in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose

Poor adherence to levothyroxine is a potential risk factor for treatment failure that ultimately leads to increased healthcare costs and serious health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between illness perception and medication adherence among primary hypothyroidism patients.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among primary hypothyroidism patients who met the inclusion criteria in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia using a questionnaire with demographic characteristics, clinical factors, the 12-Item Medication Adherence Scale, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). We included 400 patients in the analysis.

Results

We found a significant positive correlation between BIPQ subscales – personal control, treatment control, and understanding – with all domains of the 12-Item Medication Adherence Scale. The other dimensions of BIPQ subscales did not significantly correlate with medication adherence. However, a high BIPQ overall score was significantly correlated with poor medication adherence.

Conclusion

This study found a significant correlation between a high BIPQ overall score and poor medication adherence. This finding suggests the need to consider the emotional and cognitive representation of hypothyroidism in hypothyroid patients to improve their treatment adherence.

Keywords:

• hypothyroidism
• levothyroxine
• medication adherence
• illness perception

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the survey patients and the survey team.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, and drafting and revising the article, and gave final approval of the version to be published. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest with this work.