Assessment of Medication Adherence among Outpatients with Musculoskeletal Disorders at 7A Military Hospital in 2025

Abstract

Medication adherence plays a crucial role in the outpatient management of musculoskeletal disorders; however, adherence levels in routine clinical practice remain heterogeneous and insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to assess medication adherence among outpatients with musculoskeletal disorders at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 7A Military Hospital, in 2025. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted involving 400 outpatients from January to June 2025. Data were collected from medical records combined with face-to - face patient interviews, and medication adherence was assessed using the 8 - item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with a statistical significance threshold of p < 0.05. The results indicated that 40.5 % of patients demonstrated high medication adherence, while 59.5 % exhibited moderate or low adherence. Age and specific disease groups  ̶  including osteoarthritis, spine and intervertebral disc disorders, tendinopathies and tenosynovitis, and periarticular soft tissue and enthesis - related disorders  ̶  were significantly associated with medication adherence (p < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed by sex (p = 0.196). Medication adherence was notably lower among patients aged 70 years and older. This study provides empirical evidence on medication adherence in the outpatient setting of a military hospital and offers a foundation for developing supportive strategies and targeted interventions to improve adherence, particularly among older patients.