BY INDY MAEALASIA
LIMITED knowledge about medications and forgetfulness are two leading personal barriers preventing patients with chronic conditions like hypertension, from adhering to prescribed treatments, recent research has found.
The study, titled “Personal Factors Affecting Adherence in Hypertension Patients in the Solomon Islands,” was carried out last year by Solomon Islands National University (SINU) researcher Marineth Magi at the National Referral Hospital (NRH). The research focused on patients aged 41 to 70 years.
Speaking at the FALAH research seminar last week, Magi highlighted the seriousness of the issue:
“This lack of knowledge on medication intake is a serious issue that really affects patient’s health and well-being,” she said.
The research uncovered that many patients struggle to recognize their medications and have a limited understanding of how to take them correctly. These gaps in knowledge were highlighted as major contributors to non-adherence.
Additionally, Magi shared a striking statistic; nearly 70 to 80% of participants admitted to forgetting to take their daily prescribed medications.
She attributed this forgetfulness to demands of household chores and daily routines.
“Everyday, people are busy with daily tasks or chores that they tend to forget without realizing that it’s putting a risk on those diseases that they are living with,” she warned.
To address these challenges, Magi called on the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) to take action by promoting community education and strengthening follow-up care for patients after hospital discharge.
“It is very important to educate the community, especially to provide a good follow-up care after patients have been discharged from the hospital,” she said.
Magi also urged healthcare workers including nurses, doctors, and pharmacists to provide patients with clear and detailed explanations about their medications.
This includes discussing potential side effects and how medications function in the body.
“This will empower patients to better understand their treatment plans and improve adherence,” she added.
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