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. 2013 Jul 29;5:69–76. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S41940

Table 2.

Self-reported patient compliance for prescribed osteoarthritis medications, overall and by severity of osteoarthritisa

Characteristic Total
(n = 713)
Mild OAb
(n = 214)
Moderate/severe OAb
(n = 491)
I follow the instruction fully and give my medication every chance to work 429 (60.2) 135 (63.1) 288 (58.7)
I follow the instructions fully but sometimes forget to take the medication on the right day 154 (21.6) 43 (20.1) 110 (22.4)
I follow the instructions fully but am quick to give up if it doesn’t work straight away or I get side effects 53 (7.4) 13 (6.1) 40 (8.2)
It varies, I tend to take my medication for a while and then stop and/or take it when I remember 26 (3.7) 5 (2.3) 20 (4.1)
It varies, I tend to take my medication only when symptoms occur or worsen 54 (7.6) 21 (9.8) 33 (6.7)
It varies, I tend to take my medication only when I know I may get a flare up/worsening of my arthritis 14 (2.0) 4 (1.9) 10 (2.0)

Notes: There were no statistically significant differences between patients with mild versus moderate/severe OA (Chi-squared test);

a

values are number (%) of patients (eight patients were missing data on OA severity);

b

physicians graded severity of OA as mild, moderate, or severe.

Abbreviation: OA, osteoarthritis.