Nonadherence to prescription drugs is a serious health care problem. This study examines the medication adherence rate of 483 Vietnamese patients using the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center outpatient pharmacy, with the intention of discovering root factors for the nonadherence rate within the population. The dominant factor in medication adherence was the total number of independent refillable prescriptions. The rate of adherence was in direct relation to the number of refillable prescriptions. Neither sex nor age was a statistically significant factor. Further studies are required to investigate the cultural differences among different populations in relation to compliance.

patient education Medication adherence Cultural barriers

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