Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity, the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions, presents significant challenges in treatment management and medication adherence. This study investigates the burden of multimorbidity and factors influencing treatment adherence among primary care patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November to December 2023, including 422 participants selected via stratified random sampling from 12 primary healthcare centers in Jeddah. Participants were adults aged 18 years or older with two or more confirmed long-term medical conditions. The Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire (MTBQ) and General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) were used to measure treatment burden and medication adherence, respectively. Demographic variables were assessed for their influence on these outcomes. RESULTS: High treatment burden was reported by 55% of participants, while 21% reported medium burden, 15% experienced low burden and 9% no burden. Medication adherence was partial in 69% of participants, with 13% reporting high adherence, 13% good adherence, and 5% poor adherence. Statistically significant differences in MTBQ scores were observed based on marital status, education level, residence, occupation, and income. GMAS scores varied statistically significantly with marital status, education level, residence, occupation, income, and previous self-care education session attendance and MTBQ scores, with those having high burden reporting the lowest adherence scores. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic factors, including marital status, education level, residence, occupation, and income, significantly influence multimorbidity treatment burden and medication adherence. A higher treatment burden was associated with lower adherence. Targeted interventions addressing these factors could improve treatment outcomes for patients with multiple chronic conditions.