That affect medi̇cati̇on adherence i̇n i̇ndi̇vi̇duals wi̇th MS

Long term treatments including parenteral medications are applied in MS patients, and patients may experience problems with medication adherence for various reasons. This descriptive study was planned to determine the factors affecting the medication adherence of MS patients and to develop suggestions towards increasing the medication adherence of MS patients. Study data was obtained between April and October 2018 through face to face interviews with 211 patients diagnosed with MS and monitored in the neurology polyclinics of the university hospitals in the cities of Tekirdağ and Edirne. A "Patient Identification Form", the "Morisky Medication Adherence Scale", the "Beck Depression Inventory", the "Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale", and the "Illness Perception Scale" were used for data collection. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 40.03±10.82, and 70.1% were female. The mean score attained by the patients from the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was calculated to be 0.78±0.90, and the medication adherences of 48% of the patients were found to be on a good level. The MS patients took a mean score of 64.79±16.53 from the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, and medication adherence was found to be better among those with better perceived social support (p<0.01). Depressive symptomatology was detected in 35.5% of the patients. The lowest Beck Depression Inventory scores belonged to those with highest medication adherence rates (p<0.01). The effect of illness perception on medication adherence for MS patients could not be exhibited (p>0.05). Patients with poor medication adherence were found to skip polyclinic check ups more compared to those with better medication adherence (p<0.01) and be hospitalized more for reasons related to MS (p<0.05). As a result, medication adherence was found to be insufficient in half of the MS patients. More cooperation with patient relatives during the treatment process, precautions against patients skipping check ups such as a system for reminders, and scanning the patients for depressive symptomatology may be effective in increasing medication adherence. Key words: Multiple Sclerosis, Medication Adherence, Social Support, Depression, Illness Perception