Conventional medication adherence and self-treatment practices among South Asian immigrants: a qualitative study

Sumera Saeed Akhtar; Mudassir Anwar; Kirsten J. Coppell; Sherly Mathew Parackal

doi:10.1071/HC24084

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Conventional medication adherence and self-treatment practices among South Asian immigrants: a qualitative study

Sumera Saeed Akhtar ¹ , Mudassir Anwar ² , Kirsten J. Coppell ³ , Sherly Mathew Parackal

¹ ^*

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

¹ Centre for International Health, University of Otago, 55 Hanover Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email: sumerasaeed.akhtar@otago.ac.nz

² School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, 18 Frederick Street, Dunedin North, Dunedin, New Zealand. Email: mudassir.anwar@otago.ac.nz

³ Department of Medicine, University of Otago Wellington, Wellington, 6242, New Zealand. Email: kirsten.coppell@otago.ac.nz

^* Correspondence to: sherly.parackal@otago.ac.nz

Handling Editor: Felicity Goodyear-Smith

Journal of Primary Health Care 16(4) 390-397 https://doi.org/10.1071/HC24084

Submitted: 19 June 2024 Accepted: 13 October 2024 Published: 25 October 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of death. The highest CVD rate is among South Asian populations and South Asian immigrants have a higher risk of developing CVD than other ethnic groups. While treatment of established CVD risk factors is recommended, medication adherence may be poor.

Aim

This qualitative study aimed to explore medication adherence practices of New Zealand South Asians who are prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes, and/or hypertension, and/or dyslipidaemia, established risk factors for CVD.

Method

Twenty-one semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with South Asians with type 2 diabetes, and/or hypertension, and/or dyslipidaemia. Data were transcribed, then analysed thematically using NVivo12. Codes and inductively derived themes were discussed.

Results

Five themes with 12 subthemes were identified. The five themes included daily routine and medication adherence practices, perceived necessity of medications and concerns about side effects, concern and hesitancy to start conventional medications, integration of herbal and alternative therapies, and the role of healthcare providers and communication.

Discussion

These findings highlight the importance of personalised approaches to medication management that consider patients’ beliefs, daily routines, and cultural contexts to reduce CVD risk and improve health outcomes among South Asians.

Keywords: alternative treatments, cardiovascular disease risk, lifestyle changes, medication adherence, medication hesitancy, New Zealand, role of healthcare providers, South Asians.

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