The Effect of Personality Temperaments on Low Medication Adherence in Chronic Disease Patients of Two Different Populations: the U.S.A and the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Low medication adherence was typically ranging between 50 –65% on average. It is associatedwith the disease's nature and the prescribed treatment characteristics; Besides, patients’ behavioral expressions of their personality types may be important contributors to medication adherence. The the objective of this study was to describe the association between the personality temperaments (Traditionalists, Experiencers, Idealists, Conceptualizers) and self-reported medication adherence in chronic diseases (Heart problems, Diabetes, Breathing problems, and Arthritis) in two different populations, the United States, and the Sultanate of Oman. Data were collected from the 2015 National Consumer Survey of the Medication Experience and Pharmacists’ Roles via an online, self-administered survey coordinated by Qualtrics Panels in the The United States between April 28th, 2015, and June 22nd, 2015. Morisky Medication Adherence Score (MMAS-8) and the Preferred Communication Style Questionnaire was used for measuring medication adherence and classifying participant’s personality temperaments. Respondents taking at least one prescription medication for the diseases studied were eligible for the study. The same variables were translated to Arabic language and conducted via a manual paper survey at the Royal Court Medical Center in Oman from June 16th to August 16th , 2019. Data were analyzed using IMB/SPSS version 24.0 software. Chi-square, Logistic and Multinomial regression analysis, and descriptive statistics were used. About 13,731 participants from the US dataset, and 714 participants from the Oman dataset, were eligible for this study. In the U.S., the low adherence rate increased significantly (listed from the highest increase to lowest) by 64% for Experiencer, 58% for Idealist, 55% for conceptualizer, and 44% for Traditionalist. In Oman, by 57% for Idealist, 56% for Conceptualizer, 54% for The Experiencer, and 50% for Traditionalist. In the U.S. group, the four chronic diseases. In Oman, temperaments affected each chronic disease differently. Logistic regression models showed that disease type, financial hardship, and personality type all affected the likelihood of low adherence. In conclusion, Traditionalists were the most adherent to medication in both groups. Experiencers were the least adherent to medication in the U.S. group. In Oman, Experiencer showed better adherent to medication, after Tradtionoalist, except in Heart disease. Besides acknowledging the disease’s nature and treatment characteristics, personality type is important considerations for improving medication adherence. It plays a significant role in how patients perceive the disease’s nature and the treatment characteristics.