Understanding alcohol-related liver disease patients' illness beliefs and views about their medicine.

Background: people with alcohol-related liver disease require complex treatment plans that often include the need for medication for the rest of their lives. Between 30% and 50% of all patients do not take their treatment as prescribed, leading to a significantly increased risk of morbidity and mortality.

Aim: to consider the factors which influence beliefs held by patients with alcohol-related liver disease about their medication to provide an evidence base to support interventions to reduce medication non-adherence.

Method: an observational cross-sectional patient survey.

Results: statistically significant associations were found between positive attitudes towards medication and the illness representation dimensions of 'illness identity' and 'illness comprehension'.

Conclusions: medication adherence in patients with alcohol-related liver disease is likely to be improved by an intervention that strives to improve the patient's understanding of their illness condition and their perception of their illness symptoms.