Exploring symptoms perception and barriers to medication adherence among Thai Muslim patients with non-communicable diseases in a rural community in southern Thailand: a mixed-methods study
Objectives This study aimed to explore the prevalence of medication non-adherence and influence of symptom perception and various barriers on medication adherence among Thai Muslim patients in a rural subdistrict of southern Thailand. Design Explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach. Setting A rural community in southern Thailand. Methods Data collection spanned from March to December 2023. In the quantitative phase, 138 Muslim patients diagnosed with non-communicable diseases were enrolled, and their medication adherence and associated factors were assessed. In the qualitative phase, 22 participants were selected for in-depth interviews, and their symptom perceptions and the obstacles they faced in adhering to medication were explored. A focus group discussion involving 10 healthcare workers from a subdistrict health-promoting hospital was conducted to gain insights into healthcare providers’ perspectives on patients’ perceptions of symptoms and barriers to medication adherence. O
