Medication Adherence Challenges : Factors Influencing Non-Adherence in Saudi Arabia

Background Chronic diseases present a significant health risk, and global medication adherence for these conditions remains insufficient. Understanding the factors that affect adherence is essential. Purpose This study aims to better understand medication adherence and the factors influencing non-adherence in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods A questionnaire-based survey was carried out among patients with chronic diseases in the Makkah region of Saudi Arabia from May 1 to August 31, 2024. Participants included individuals aged 18 and older using either prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Descriptive statistics were employed to outline the participants’ characteristics, with categorical variables presented as frequencies and percentages. A chi-square test was utilized to examine the relationships between variables. Results In total, 292 participants were included in this study. Their ages ranged from 18 to more than 50 years, with a mean age of 38.4 ± 12.5 years old and most of them (72.6%) were female. For chronic diseases, the most reported were hypertension (HTN) (28.8%), diabetes (22.6%), and dyslipidemia (22.3%). The majority of patients (77.7%) were taking 1–3 medications daily, 13.5% were taking 4–6 drugs, and 3.8% were taking 7–9 medications. Medication adherence was significantly associated with informed medical instruction ( p < .01), family and friend support ( p < .01), and the number of drugs received daily ( p < .004). Conclusion Focusing on factors such as clear medical instructions, social support, and the number of medications prescribed could boost medication adherence and lead to better health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia.