Profiling patient attitudes to phosphate binding medication: a route to personalising treatment and adherence support

Objective: Nonadherence to phosphate binding medication (PBM) compromises the efficacy of treatment for chronic kidney disease, but its causes are poorly understood. This study sought to explore patient attitudes towards PBM and to evaluate the utility of the necessity-concerns framework for understanding adherence to PBM. Design: A sample of 221 dialysis patients currently prescribed PBM were surveyed from eight UK renal units. Main Outcome Measures: Demographic data and clinical information, alongside the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire and the medication adherence report scale were reported. Results: Low adherence to PBM was predicted by reduced beliefs in personal need for PBM (OR = .34; 95% CI: .14–.83; p < .05), and increased concerns about PBM (OR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.87–5.37; p < .001). Patients were categorised into attitudinal groups based on their beliefs about PBM and being ‘skeptical’ of PBM (low necessity beliefs and high concerns) was most associated with low adherence. Conclusion: Strategies to improve adherence to PBM should aim to elicit and address patients’ beliefs about their personal need for PBM and their concerns about this medication.