Table 3.

Reasons that participants took medicines in a different way from which was prescribed.

Reason	% (n/45⁎)
Not applicable – I always take my medicines as prescribed	44.4 (20)
I forgot to take them	40.1 (18)
I forgot to bring my medicines from home with me when I was travelling/working	35.6 (16)
My symptoms had got better so I didn't think I needed them anymore	18.2 (8)
They made me feel sick	15.6 (7)
I didn't have any medicines left	8.9 (4)
I couldn't afford to pick up my medicines	8.9 (4)
I wasn't able to get the Dr. to get the prescription	6.7 (3)
I wasn't able to get the pharmacy to pick up my medicines	6.7 (3)
I didn't think they were right for me	6.7 (3)
Another health professional told me to take them differently to how they had been prescribed	4.4 (2)
The medicines made no difference to my health	4.4 (2)
I used alternative treatments instead of medicines	4.4 (2)
The prescriber made a mistake with what was prescribed	2.2 (1)
I had been given the wrong medicines so I didn't take them	2.2 (1)
It was a hassle to take the medicines	2.2 (1)
I hadn't been given enough information to decide if I wanted to take them	2.2 (1)
I take too many medicines	2.2 (1)
The medicine treatment was too complicated	2.2 (1)
It was inconvenient to take my medicines	2.2 (1)
I had more important things going on	2.2 (1)
I didn't trust the medicines	0 (0)
I didn't believe in the medicines	0 (0)
Other – not specified	6.7 (3)

^⁎13 other participants reported that this question was not applicable as they did not take regular medicines.