Evaluation on the compliance of adults wi̇th chronic diseases to the management plan during COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: People with chronic diseases, which have been increasing in recent years and cause significant morbidity and mortality, are among the groups most affected by the restrictions brought by the pandemic. The aim of the study is to evaluate the compliance of adults with chronic diseases to treatment management during the pandemic period and the factors affecting their compliance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face interviews through a questionnaire. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and Adaptation to Chronic Illness Scale (ACIS) were applied to the patients to evaluate their compliance with their treatment management. Analyzes were made with the SPSS 26.0 package program. The statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Findings: 366 people aged 18 and over were included in the study. The mean age was 52.07±13.93, and 77.6% were married, 56% were high school or university graduates, and 41.3% were employed. The most common diseases are CVS diseases, diabetes, non-diabetic endocrinopathies, respiratory diseases. The rate of those with a chronic disease is 70.2%. 88.7% of them had 0-5 examinations during the pandemic, and 83.6% of them used all their drugs during the pandemic period. Drug compliance was moderate-high in 85.3%, and it was high in non-alcoholics and those with rheumatological diseases. The total mean score of the participants' ACIS was 88.31±12.82, subscales of physical adjustment were 40.1±6.76, social adjustment was 23.39±5.25, and psychological adjustment points were 24.89±4.88. Physical adjustment, high school and university graduates, respiratory and psychiatric diseases, annual number of examinations between 6-12; social adjustment, 18-34 years old, university graduate, single, working, alcohol use, CVS disease and those who have a disease; psychological adjustment is high in those who have social support, who work, who have respiratory and gastroenterological diseases. Conclusion and Recommendations: People with chronic diseases have faced many problems during the pandemic period. One of these problems is drug compliance. In this study, drug compliance of people with chronic diseases was medium-high. The most important factors affecting drug compliance are education level, presence of social support and number of chronic diseases. In order to increase drug compliance, patients with chronic diseases should be informed and supported about multifocal interventions both in examination applications and in terms of health policies. Keywords: chronic diseases, treatment compliance, COVID-19 pandemic, Morisky, Adaptation to Chronic Illness Scale