Background
Maintaining a usual source of care (USC), which is crucial for primary healthcare, encompasses initial contact, comprehensive services, coordinated care, and ongoing support. However, limited research exists on the relationship between USC and medication adherence in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the association between USC and medication adherence among patients with hypertension.
Methods
Data from the 2nd Korea Health Panel Survey 2020 were analyzed. The final sample consisted of 3,318 participants aged 19 years or older diagnosed with hypertension. USC was categorized into three groups: no USC, place only (without a regular doctor), and regular doctor. Medication adherence was assessed using detailed items (dose, frequency, time, no stop) and a 4-point Likert scale. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with control for relevant variables.
Results
Compared to the no USC group, the regular doctor group had significantly higher odds ratios (ORs) for overall perfect/high medication adherence rates: 1.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–2.03) and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.14–2.20). Similar results were observed for each adherence item, including prefect dose (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.73– 2.63), frequency (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.53–2.28), time (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.43–2.07), and no stop (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.09–2.23)/high frequency (OR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.21–5.01), time (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.19–4.44). However, the place only group showed no significant differences in medication adherence except for perfect adherence to dose (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.71).
Conclusion
These findings provide evidence supporting the need for healthcare policies that encourage having a regular doctor in South Korea, which has a healthcare system with limited primary care.

Citations

• Types of Usual Source of Care and Medication Adherence in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
  Yoon-Eui Choi, Nak-Jin Sung
  Korean Journal of Family Practice.2025; 15(1): 47.     CrossRef
• Supply of Primary Care Physicians: A Key Strategy to Reduce Population Mortality
  Young Gyu Cho
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(2): 59.     CrossRef

Background
This study aimed to examine the relationship between patient experience and medication compliance of patients with dyslipidemia.

Methods
Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2015, the study examined 764 patients treated with dyslipidemia medication. Subjects who responded to the question “Do you currently take medication to lower your blood cholesterol?” with “daily taking” were categorized as the compliant group, and the remaining subjects were classified under the non-compliant group. The patient experience survey included four indicators, in which subjects were divided into groups with a positive and negative patient experience. Data on sociodemographic factors, health-related behaviors, and self-reported comorbid conditions were also collected.

Results
After adjusting the variables, the group with a positive response for the patient experience indicator “doctor spends enough time with the patient during consultation” was 1.89 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–3.48; P=0.04). For the indicator “doctor provides easy-to-understand explanations,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.74 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.39–5.39; P=0.004). For the indicator “doctor involves patients in decisions about care or treatment,” the group that showed a positive response was 2.07 times more compliant than the group with a negative response (95% CI, 1.02–4.22; P=0.04). However, for the indicator “doctor provides the patient a chance to ask questions about treatment,” positive patient experience had no significant association with medication compliance (95% CI, 0.77–2.36; P=0.30).

Conclusion
Building a good doctor-patient relationship with positive patient experiences can result in better outcomes for patient care through high medication compliance.

Citations

• Insights into medication adherence among Jordanian patients with dyslipidemia: evaluating health literacy, well-being, and doctor-patient communication
  Muna Barakat, Samar Thiab, Shaymaa B. Abdulrazzaq, Marah Al-Jamal, Fotoh AlHariri, Rakan Bassam Ammari, Sara Mansour, Sami El Khatib, Souheil Hallit, Basile Hosseini, Diana Malaeb, Hassan Hosseini
  Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is relatively common despite treatment with antihypertensive medication. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with uncontrolled systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) separately in hypertensive patients with high medication adherence in Korea.
Methods
This population-based cross-sectional study included 3,236 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2015. Hypertensive patients with high medication adherence were defined when they stated that they were taking antihypertensive medication daily. “Uncontrolled SBP and DBP” were defined as SBP ≥140 mm Hg and DBP ≥90 mm Hg, respectively. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to determine the association between uncontrolled SBP or DBP and various factors.
Results
The prevalence of uncontrolled SBP and uncontrolled DBP was 23.3%, and 9.0%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, uncontrolled SBP was positively associated with older age, female sex, blue-collar occupation or no work (vs. white-collar), presence of a spouse, short sleep duration, frequent heavy alcohol drinking, longer hypertension duration, diabetes, stroke, and missing antihypertensive medication on the examination day, but negatively associated with high stress. Uncontrolled DBP was positively associated with frequent heavy alcohol drinking, but negatively associated with older age, blue-collar occupation or no work (vs. white-collar), and diabetes.
Conclusion
After excluding low medication adherence, we identified various factors associated with uncontrolled SBP or DBP in Korean adults with treated hypertension. There were differences between factors associated with uncontrolled SBP or DBP. Separate analysis of SBP and DBP may help understand the factors involved in BP control.

Citations

• Factor associated with and risk of cardiovascular disease in people with uncontrolled hypertension
  Sara Ringwald-de Meyer, Roxane de La Harpe, Peter Vollenweider, Pedro Marques-Vidal, Julien Vaucher
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Exploring the Influence of a Single Bout of Tahajjud Prayer on Acute Blood Pressure Response in Normotensive Young Adult Males with Varied Regularity of Tahajjud Practice
  Yusni Yusni, Hanifah Yusuf, Mustanir Yahya
  Islamic Guidance and Counseling Journal.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Adherence to Self-Care among Patients with Hypertension in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Afework Edmealem, Sewunet Ademe, Sisay Gedamu, Tomohiro Katsuya
  International Journal of Hypertension.2022; 2022: 1.     CrossRef
• Medication Adherence and Effective Management of Hypertension
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(2): 89.     CrossRef
• A Modified Recommended Food Score Is Inversely Associated with High Blood Pressure in Korean Adults
  Kyuyoung Han, Yoon Jung Yang, Hyesook Kim, Oran Kwon
  Nutrients.2020; 12(11): 3479.     CrossRef

Background
Home blood pressure monitoring is recommended to achieve controlled blood pressure. This study evaluated home blood pressure monitoring-improvement of office blood pressure control and treatment compliance among hypertensive patients.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2014 to April 2015. The home blood pressure monitoring group used an automatic blood pressure device along with standard hypertension outpatient care. Patients were seen at baseline and after 2 months. Medication adherence was measured using a novel validated Medication Adherence Scale (MAS) questionnaire. Office blood pressure and MAS were recorded at both visits. The primary outcomes included evaluation of mean office blood pressure and MAS within groups and between groups at baseline and after 2 months.
Results
Mean changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and MAS differed significantly within groups. The home blood pressure monitoring group showed greater mean changes (SBP 17.6 mm Hg, DBP 9.5 mm Hg, MAS 1.5 vs. SBP 14.3 mm Hg, DBP 6.4 mm Hg, MAS 1.3), while between group comparisons showed no significant differences across all variables. The adjusted mean difference for mean SBP was 4.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.65 to 10.13 mm Hg; P=0.084), mean DBP was 1.41 (95% CI, -2.01 to 4.82 mm Hg; P=0.415), and mean MAS was 0.05 (95% CI, -0.29 to 0.40 mm Hg; P=0.768).
Conclusion
Short-term home blood pressure monitoring significantly reduced office blood pressure and improved medication adherence, albeit similarly to standard care.

Citations

• Comparative Different Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence in Patients with Hypertension
  Wei Yuan, Yu Zhang, LiHua MA
  Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.2025; 40(1): E9.     CrossRef
• Use of a blood pressure log is associated with improved blood pressure medication adherence in a predominately racial/ethnic minority sample
  Wing Hang Lau, Eric Lam, Joshua Fogel, Hanna Ghanayem, Chris Elsayad, Anjum Maqbool, Vas Vilma
  Blood Pressure Monitoring.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Metabolic Syndrome and Its Associated Factors Among Patients With Schizophrenia Treated With Second-Generation Antipsychotics at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
  Melak Gedamu Beyene, Solomon Teferra, Teferi G Fenta
  Cureus.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Biomarkers and Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Syndrome Among People Living With HIV/AIDS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Study
  Minyahil Woldu, Omary Minzi, Workineh Shibeshi, Aster Shewaamare, Ephrem Engidawork
  Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Dyslipidemia and associated cardiovascular risk factors in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients visiting ambulatory clinics: A hospital-based study
  Minyahil A. Woldu, Omary Minzi, Ephrem Engidawork
  JRSM Cardiovascular Disease.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Cardiometabolic syndrome in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cohort study
  Minyahil Woldu, Omary Minzi, Workineh Shibeshi, Aster Shewaamare, Ephrem Engidawork
  Cardiovascular Endocrinology & Metabolism.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Improving medication adherence in hypertensive patients: A scoping review
  Simão Pinho, Mariana Cruz, Filipa Ferreira, André Ramalho, Rute Sampaio
  Preventive Medicine.2021; 146: 106467.     CrossRef
• Medication Adherence and Effective Management of Hypertension
  Seung-Won Oh
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2021; 42(2): 89.     CrossRef
• Evaluation of blood pressure through home monitoring in brazilian primary care: a feasibility study
  Jéssica Nunes Moreno, Welma Wildes Amorim, Sóstenes Mistro, Danielle Souto de Medeiros, Matheus Lopes Cortes, Daniela Arruda Soares, José Andrade Louzado, Clavdia Nicolaevna Kochergin, Kelle Oliveira Silva, Vanessa Moraes Bezerra, Marcio Galvão Oliveira
  Ciência & Saúde Coletiva.2021; 26(8): 2997.     CrossRef
• Clinical applications for out-of-office blood pressure monitoring
  Hailan Zhu, Haoxiao Zheng, Xinyue Liu, Weiyi Mai, Yuli Huang
  Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Strategies to Improve Adherence to Anti-Hypertensive Medications: a Narrative Review
  Chigozirim Izeogu, Jolaade Kalinowski, Antoinette Schoenthaler
  Current Hypertension Reports.2020;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Can Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Help Control Blood Pressure and Increase Drug Compliance of Hypertensive Patients?
  Soo Young Kim
  Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2019; 40(5): 287.     CrossRef