Illness Perception is a Predictor of Medication Adherence and Health Related Quality of Life in Patients Living with Epilepsy
Unyime Eshiet *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy, University of Uyo, Nigeria.
Bertha Ekeh
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
Sidney Oparah
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To determine the relationship between illness perception, medication adherence and health related quality of life in patients living with epilepsy.
Design: A cross-sectional prospective survey among patients living with epilepsy recruited from two tertiary referral centers in Nigeria.
Methods: Patients’ illness perception, adherence to antiepileptic drugs, and health related quality of life were determined using the brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ), the eight-item Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8), and the patient weighted quality of life in epilepsy instrument (QOLIE-10-P) respectively. Correlation and linear regression analysis were used to test the relationship between the assessment variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: Multivariate linear regression revealed that patients’ medication adherence score was predicted by their illness perception score (B = -0.030; p = 0.033). Also, patients’ QOLIE score was predicted by their illness perception score (B = -0.318; p = 0.0001).
Conclusion: In patients living with epilepsy, illness perception is a predictor of their adherence to antiepileptic drug regimen and their health-related quality of life.
Keywords: Epilepsy, illness perception, predictor, adherence, quality of life.