To investigate the relationship between symptom burden, medication adherence, and spiritual well-being in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The relationship between spirituality and medication adherence has been investigated in different chronic conditions. However, the relationship between symptom burden, medication adherence, and spiritual well-being in patients with COPD has not been explored.
A descriptive correlational study design was adopted.
A total of 112 patients with COPD were included in the study. Data were collected using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale-7 (ARMS-7), and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACIT-Sp). The data were analyzed using descriptive and correlational statistics. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Checklist was used.
The CAT score was significantly higher in patients on long-term oxygen therapy and those who had more than three comorbid conditions (p < 0.05). The mean score of ARMS-7 was significantly associated with age (p < 0.05). Current smokers had higher ARMS-7 and lower FACIT-Sp scores (p < 0.001). The FACIT-Sp score was negatively and moderately associated with the CAT and ARMS-7 scores (p < 0.001).
This study concluded that individuals with higher spiritual well-being had lower symptom burden and higher medication adherence. The need for long-term oxygen therapy and a high number of comorbid conditions were associated with increased symptom burden. Current smokers had lower spiritual well-being and medication adherence.
Spiritual well-being should be evaluated when assessing symptom burden and medication adherence in clinical practice. In addition, further studies examining the causal relationship between symptom burden, spiritual well-being, and medication adherence in different populations are warranted.

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