Physician–patient interaction and medication adherence in lupus nephritis. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Georgopoulou, Sofia; Nel, Louise; Sangle, Shirish R; D'Cruz, David P
• Is Part Of: Lupus. Volume 29:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1168
• Page End: 1178
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Doctor–patient communication -- medication adherence -- lupus nephritis -- trust; Systemic lupus erythematosus -- Periodicals; 616.772005
• DOI: 10.1177/0961203320935977
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-2033

Abstract

Objective: The quality of physician–patient interaction can have a significant impact on medication adherence. Little is known about this relationship in patients with lupus nephritis. Methods: A cross-sectional, quantitative study. Data collected included demographics, current medication, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index, medication adherence, beliefs about medicines, shared decision-making, patient–doctor depth of relationship, patient–doctor quality of relationship, interpersonal trust in a physician and illness perceptions. Results: Ninety-eight patients with lupus nephritis completed the questionnaires. Logistic regression indicated that medication adherence was significantly predicted by (a) interpersonal trust in a physician (B = 0.85, Wald 3.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 5.44; P = 0.05); (b) timeline cyclical (B = –0.89, Wald 4.95, 95% CI 0.19, 0.90; P < 0.05) and beliefs about the necessity of medicines (B = 0.75, Wald 4.14, 95% CI 1.03, 4.38; P < 0.05). Mediation analysis showed that beliefs about the necessity of medicines significantly mediated the relationship between trust and medication adherence when adjusted for age (B = 0.48, 95% CI 0.06, 1.08; P < 0.01). A further mediation analysis showed that patient–doctor depth of relationship (B = 0.05, 95% CI 0.01, 0.09; P < 0.001), shared decision-making (B = 0.07, 95% CI 0.01, 0.13; P < 0.001) and patient–doctor quality of relationship (B = 0.08, 95% CI 0.01, 0.16; P < 0.001) significantly mediated the relationship between illness coherence and interpersonal trust in a physician. Conclusion: The findings highlighted two key elements: (a) the importance of trust in relation to medication adherence; and (b) a good understanding of patients' illness is linked to a better relationship with their doctor and greater participation in shared decision-making which is associated with increased trust. Tailored psycho-educational interventions could contribute to improving the patient–doctor relationship quality, trust and increased shared decision-making, which, in turn, might improve medication adherence in patients with lupus nephritis.