Factors Affecting Compliance of Patients with Esophageal Varices Regarding Therapeutic Regimen

Background: Esophageal varices, especially if they bleed, are a leading cause of cirrhosis mortality. Compliance with treatment is crucial to controlling esophageal varices and associated consequences. Aim: Assess factors affecting compliance of patients with esophageal varices regarding therapeutic regimen. Design: Descriptive exploratory research design was used in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at the gastrointestinal tract endoscopy unit and internal medicine unit at El Karnak International hospital in Luxor Government. Sample: A purposive sample was used in this study of 145 adult patients with esophageal varices of both genders. Tools: Three tools were used in the study: 1st Tool: Structured Interview Questionnaire, 2nd Tool: Therapeutic Regimen Patients Compliance Questionnaire. And the 3rd Tool: Factors Affecting Esophageal Varices Patients' Compliance to Therapeutic Regimen Assessment Questionnaire. Results: 55.9% of the studied patients had a low level of compliance regarding the therapeutic regimen, 64.1% of the studied patients had a high contributing factor that affects compliance to the therapeutic regimen and there was a highly significant statistical relationship between compliance of the studied patients and factors affecting compliance to the therapeutic regimen. Conclusion: This study finds that more than half of the patients studied had a low level of compliance regarding the therapeutic regimen. About two thirds of the studied patients had a high contributing factor that affects compliance to the therapeutic regimen and there was a significant statistical relationship between compliance of the studied patients and factors affecting compliance to the therapeutic regimen.