Association of attitude to illness with adherence to treatment in patients with chronic gastritis

Aim. To study the associations between the attitude towards illness and the level of compliance in patients with chronic gastritis.Materials and Methods. The study included 302 patients with chronic gastritis which have been stratified into 4 groups: 1) 96 patients with Helicobacter pylori (HP)-associated chronic gastritis and high treatment adherence; 2) 110 patients with HP-negative chronic gastritis and high treatment adherence; 3) 36 patients with HP-associated gastritis who refused treatment; 4) 60 patients with HP-associated gastritis and moderate treatment adherence. The level of adherence to treatment and personal response to the disease was assessed using Davydov and TOBOL questionnaires, respectively. Interrelations of the studied parameters were evaluated using correlation analysis.Results. Eradication of HP was associated with a high treatment adherence. The majority of patients (56.0%) had adaptive behavioural response, whilst mixed (18.2%) and maladaptive types (12.5% for intrapsychic and 11.6% for interpsychic orientation) were less frequently observed. In patients who refused treatment, adaptive behavioural response was less common than anosognosic and maladaptive attitudes. Correlation analysis revealed that treatment adherence positively correlates with harmonious and ergopathic attitudes.Conclusion. Attitude to illness affects adherence to treatment in patients with chronic gastritis.