Non-Adherence to Antiepileptic Drugs and Associated Factors among Epileptic Patients at Ambulatory Clinic of Southwestern Ethiopian Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Non-adherence to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) was the most common drug therapy issue that hampered epileptic patients' treatment success. As a result, the barriers to patients adhering to their treatment should be investigated in depth in order to prevent poor treatment outcomes. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on epileptic patients who had followed up at Mettu Karl Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (MKCSH). Data collection was done through patient interview and medical charts review. Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale was used to measure medication adherence. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 after data were entered by Epi Info7.2.1. The multivariable logistic regressions were utilized and P < 0.05 was used to declare association. Results: Over the study period, more than half of the participants 172 (57.7%) were males, and the median age of participants was 29 years. The magnitude of non-adherence to ant-epileptic drugs (AEDs) was 120 (40.27%). The results of multivariable analysis revealed that patients who had experienced the medication side effects, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.199; 95% CI: 1.21, 4.00, P = 0.010, a poly-pharmacy, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.166; 95% CI: 2.63, 10.14, P =