Table 2.
Demographic and clinical characteristics for patients with and without medication discrepancies between the patient and their medical record
| ≥1 Medication Discrepancy n = 27 |
Medication Discrepancy Absent n = 23 |
P | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean (±SD) | 61 ± 8 | 55 ± 11 | 0.04 | |
| Male, no (%) | 20 (74.1 %) | 19 (82.6 %) | 0.52 | |
| Years attending clinic, median (range) | 2.6 (0.0 – 19.4) | 2.9 (0.1 - 13.4) | 0.86 | |
| Liver disease severity | Compensated Decompensated |
55.6 % 44.4 % |
65.2 % 34.8 % |
0.49 |
| Patient has a regular GP | 96.3 % | 73.9 % | 0.04 | |
| Comorbidities presenta | 85.2 % | 52.2 % | 0.02 | |
| Level of Education | Primary/High School | 66.7 % | 73.9 % | 0.58 |
| Higher Educationb | 33.3 % | 26.1 % | ||
| Currently employed | 25.9 % | 43.5 % | 0.19 | |
| Patient reported being ‘told how to take your medications’c | 59.3 % | 50.0 % | 0.56 | |
| Patient reported being able to afford medicationsc | 59.3 % | 81.2 % | 0.19 | |
| No. of conventional medicinesc | 1-4 ≥5 |
22.2 % 77.8 % |
62.5 % 37.5 % |
<0.01 |
| Adherence ranking (MMAS-8)d | High Medium Low |
4.2 % 70.8 % 25.0 % |
37.5 % 31.2 % 31.2 % |
<0.01 |
aComorbidities included cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hypothyroidism, benign prostatic hyperplasia, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and neuropathic pain
bTrade, technical certificate, diploma
cExcluding 4 patients who took no medications, 2 patients who only took CAMs and 1 patient who did not answer the question (total n = 43 patients; ≥1 significant discrepancy n = 27; no significant discrepancy n = 16). Conventional medicines included vitamins and protein supplements prescribed for the management of cirrhosis or other medical conditions (including: vitamin B1, vitamin D, vitamin A, ferrous sulphate in 1 patient with chronic anaemia, magnesium for 2 patients with symptomatic hypomagnesemia due to diuretic use, and calcium in 1 patient with osteoporosis)
dExcluding 10 patients who did not complete this section of the questionnaire (total n = 40; ≥1 medication discrepancy n = 24; No medication discrepancy n = 16)