Trajectory and predictors of adherence to Nucleos(t)ide analogues medication among patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objectives: To investigate the developmental trajectory of medication adherence and its predictors in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients taking nucleos(t)ide analogues.

Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted. Patients with CHB who met the inclusion criteria were selected using convenience sampling. Follow-ups were conducted at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Medication adherence was assessed using a medication adherence scale. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) was used to explore medication adherence trajectories, and repeated measures ANOVA was used to describe changes in each trajectory. Unordered multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to explore predictive factors.

Results: A total of 305 patients completed all follow-ups. Medication adherence was categorized into four trajectory groups: low adherence (4.9 %), decreasing adherence (24.3 %), increasing adherence (48.2 %), and high adherence (22.6 %). Multinomial logistic regression results showed that HBV-infected discrimination, depression, self-efficacy, and social support were significantly different among different medication adherence levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Medication adherence trajectories in patients with CHB exhibit heterogeneity. Healthcare professionals can develop personalized treatment plans based on patients' social and psychological characteristics to improve medication adherence.