Clinicians' Contribution to Medication Non adherence: The role of Clinicians' Communication Skill Nwani et al. Clinicians’ contribution to medication nonadherence

Abstract

Background: Medication nonadherence is a common problem, and the training of clinicians to communicate better enhances patients' adherence to medications. Objectives: This study aims to assess clinicians' communication skills during the process of rational prescribing in clinics. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based descriptive study conducted among clinicians in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. The questions were adapted from the section on communication skills outlined in “Guide to Good Prescribing." Responses were rated on a 5-point Likert scale from “all of the time” to “none of the time,” and the data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: There were 100 clinicians, 71 (71%) males and 29 (29%) females, with a mean years of practice of 8.2±5.8 years. Only 47% of the clinicians informed their patients “all of the time” when medicine is prescribed in clinic on why the medicine is needed, and 23% on which symptoms will disappear and which will not disappear with treatment. About 20% inform their patients “all of the time” on which side effects may occur and what action to take, while 18% and 11%, respectively, do the same on how serious the expected side effects are and their expected duration. Conclusion: This study revealed poor communication of vital information, instructions, and warnings to patients during encounters in the clinics, and this is a harbinger of medication nonadherence. Good training on therapeutic skills (how to select, prescribe, and monitor treatment, and how to communicate effectively with their patients), if incorporated into medical training in developing nations, will improve medication adherence.