Evaluation of medication adherence and medication beliefs and their relation with quality of life in osteoporotic patients with and without vertebral fractures: a path analysis

BackgroundOsteoporosis (OP) is a public health problem that causes morbidity and mortality with various complications, especially fractures, negatively affects quality of life (QoL) and creates an economic burden on society. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among medication adherence, medication beliefs, QoL in Turkish patients with OP.ResultsThe Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS) total score was 17 in those with vertebral fractures and 18 in those without vertebral fractures. The total Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (Qualeffo-41) score was 48.7 in those with vertebral fractures and 35.1 in those without vertebral fractures. Visual analog scale (VAS) of pain scores showed a moderate correlation with every domain of the Qualeffo-41 scores (r = 0.401, r = 0.412, r = 0.391, r = 0.402, r = 0.380, r = 0.387 respectively, P = < 0.001). MARS total score, Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ), and Qualeffo-41 parameters were compared between patients with osteoporotic fractures and without fractures. In patients with a vertebral fracture, the patients Qualeffo-41 scores were higher with every domain and their QoL was more impaired (p < 0.001); but there were no significant differences between patients with osteoporotic fractures and without fractures in terms of MARS total score and BMQ domains. The pathway analysis results showed that general beliefs about drugs is associated with the physical function and social function of statistically significant and general overuse is associated with the pain (& beta; = 1.781; p < 0.001), and general health (& beta; = 1,832; p = 0.039). However, self-reported medication adherence and specific beliefs is not associated with the pain, physical function, social function, general health, and mental function (p > 0.05) of statistically significant.ConclusionsEnhancing positive medication beliefs are a promising approach to improve medication adherence, and in turn, improved diseases self management and better QoL, in OP patients.