Sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral determinants of treatment adherence in acne vulgaris: a multicenter study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background This multicenter study aimed to evaluate treatment adherence and satisfaction among patients with acne vulgaris.Methods A total of 2,349 patients from 18 dermatology centers across Türkiye completed structured questionnaires.Results The participants were predominantly female (79.4%) with a mean age of 21.6 years. Overall, 48% reported consistent adherence to therapy, with significantly lower adherence among males (p < 0.001). The most frequent reasons for nonadherence were forgetfulness (28.7%), dislike of the treatment (26.4%), and reluctance to maintain long-term therapy (21.5%). Treatment adherence was positively associated with higher educational levels (p = 0.006) and greater acne severity (p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that systemic oral therapy (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 3.147–6.086; p < 0.001) and oral isotretinoin (OR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.379–6.869; p < 0.001) significantly increased adherence compared to topical therapy. Oral treatment was also independently associated with greater satisfaction (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.767–3.095; p < 0.001). Moreover, mild acne severity (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.216–2.297; p = 0.002) and older age (per year; OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.020–1.088; p = 0.001) predicted higher satisfaction.Conclusion Systemic therapies—particularly oral isotretinoin—were associated with improved adherence and satisfaction.
Authors: Arzu Ferhatosmanoğlu, İbrahim Etem Arıca, Mualla Polat, Mehmet Yıldırım, Göknur Kalkan, Rana Başara Şahin, Mustafa Tosun, Elif Nur Meral, Elif Afacan Yıldırım, Yeşim Akpınar Kara, Gülhan Aksoy Saraç, Elif Bal Avcı, Harbiye Dilek Canat, Dilara İlhan Erdil, Esma İnan Yüksel, Selda Pelin Kartal, Hatice Kaya Özden, Seray Külcü Çakmak, Mustafa Tümtürk, Yasemin Aygül Yıldırım, Ayşe Serap Karadağ
Institutions: Karadeniz Technical University, Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Suleyman Demirel University, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Sivas Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, Bakırköy Dr.Sadi Konuk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Trakya University, İstanbul Başakşehir Çam ve Sakura Şehir Hastanesi, Ankara Etlik City Hospital, İstanbul Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Atlas Üniversitesi
Language: English
Subfield: Dermatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7128712939