RP-Department of Family Medicine, Community Health and Epidemiology

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Browsing RP-Department of Family Medicine, Community Health and Epidemiology by Author "Ambani, Elizabeth"

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    Patient-Related Factors Associated with Non-Adherence to Psychotropic Medication among Patients with Mental Disorders attending Clinic Follow-Up at Mathari National Hospital, Nairobi City County, Kenya
    (Journal ofMedicine, Nursing and Public Health, 2025-03) Makau, Ruth Mwikali; Kabue, Priscilla; Ambani, Elizabeth
    Non-adherence to psychotropic medication among persons with mental disorders prevents the sick persons from getting the full advantages of medication which affects them and their families negatively besides putting unnecessary pressure on the already overstretched health care system. Recent research findings show that non-adherence is a worldwide phenomenon among mentally sick persons leading to poorer outcomes such as increased hospital admissions, suicides, and deaths. This study aimed to examine patient-related factors associated with non-adherence to psychotropic medication among patients with mental disorders. This research employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A total of 230 respondents were identified through simple random sampling in that all patients with a history of missing drug therapy as documented in the clinic notes or observed by the referring clinician were included. The correlation analysis results revealed that economic status and family support had a significant negative association with non-adherence to psychotropic medication. Moreover, side effects, beliefs and perceptions, and comorbidity had a significant positive association with non-adherence to psychotropic medication among follow-up patients with psychiatric disorders at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. Regression results indicated that comorbidity had a significant positive effect on non-adherence; while family support had a significant negative effect on non-adherence to psychotropic medication among follow-up patients with psychiatric disorders at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital. The families of patients with mental disorders should continually support them in their recovery journey and particularly encourage them to keep taking the treatment as instructed.