[Medication adherence and its influencing factors in patients with oral lichen planus].

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the current medi-cation adherence status and analyze its influencing factors in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and thus provide a reference for developing interventions to improve medication adherence in this population.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with OLP who attended the Department of Oral Medicine, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, between February 2023 and September 2024. Data were collected by using a general information questionnaire, a patient medication questionnaire, and the Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8). Univariate analysis was first performed, and variables with P<0.1 were included in a multiple linear regression model to adjust for interactions and potential confounding effects, assessing the effect of demographic characteristics, disease status, disease cognition, and medication behavior on medication adherence.

Results: A total of 388 patients with OLP were included. The mean MMAS-8 score was 5.37, with a median of 5.75 (Q₁, Q₃: 4.00, 7.00). Medication adherence was categorized as low (MMAS-8<6) in 202 patients (52.1%), medium (6≤MMAS-8<8) in 147 patients (37.9%), and high (MMAS-8=8) in 39 patients (10.1%). Univariate analysis and multiple regression model adjustment revealed that educational level and anxiety related to long-term medication were independent negative influen-cing factors for medication adherence. By contrast, awareness of the drug abuse harm and the experience of adverse drug reactions were independent positive influencing factors.

Conclusions: Medication adherence among patients with OLP is generally suboptimal. A high educational level and medication-related anxiety are risk factors for low adherence, whereas sufficient awareness of the harm of drug abuse and the actual experience of adverse drug reactions are associa-ted with good adherence. This situation suggests that differentiated patient education and increased attention to psychological intervention during treatment are necessary in clinical practice to improve medication adherence in patients OLP specifically.