Last update:
10-Jun-2025

OBJECTIVE To investigate the degree of medication adherence in women with osteoporosis, as well as its correlation with their quality of life.

METHOD The questionnaire was divided into four parts; the first was related to the collection of demographic data, the second included questions related to medication, while the third and fourth part included the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, respectively. The study involved 75 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, while the research was conducted in the regional unit of Pella, Greece from November 2022 to March 2023. The analysis of the collected data was performed through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0.

RESULTS Adherence to medication was rated high, while the self-rated health index (EQ-vas) was also high. Regarding the quality of life, most of the participants reported that they have no or little stress-sadness, pain-discomfort and problems in walking, while the majority had no problems at all in carrying out usual activities and self-care. Additionally, women with higher levels of medication adherence showed a higher quality of life and self-rated health, while medication adherence related negatively with all problems of quality of life. At the same time, medication adherence, quality of life, and self-rated health were lower for those who had not attended school, and those taking more than five drugs daily, while quality of life and self-rated health were lower for women who experienced many or some financial difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS By exploring factors acting as inhibitors to medication adherence, healthcare professionals will be able to develop tailored interventions to improve adherence and ultimately improve the quality of life of women with osteoporosis.

Key words: EQ-5D-5L, Medication adherence, Morisky Scale, Osteoporosis, Quality of life, Self-rated health.