AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Background: Several studies have documented differences between individuals from different ethnic groups in terms of the way in which medications are viewed. These views can potentially impact on medication adherence. However, comparisons of adherence between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from other minority ethnic groups and South Asians have not been reported. Method: Two studies were undertaken in patients with RA: a quantitative survey (180 patients) to investigate the relation between demographic, diseases related and psychological variables and a qualitative study explored the reasons for poor adherence to medications used in RA. Results: The quantitative survey undertaken for this thesis demonstrated that South Asian RA patients exhibited more negative beliefs about medicines and lower levels of adherence to RA medicines than did their White British counterparts and were more dissatisfied with the information they received about their medicines. Results from the interviews showed that four interlinking themes influenced adherence in both South Asian and White British ethnic groups. Conclusion: This thesis has demonstrated that some beliefs about medicines and illness perceptions differ between the South Asian and White British ethnic groups; these beliefs and perceptions are important in understanding differences in adherence between these two groups.