Abstract
Aims: The study investigated the pattern of adherence to medication and dietary treatment among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study conducted among 350 consented patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from a secondary public healthcare facility. Materials and Methods: A semistructured questionnaire was interviewer-administered to obtain information on respondents′ sociodemographic characteristics, level of adherence to medication and dietary treatment, and suggestions on ways of improving adherence to treatment. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data with level of significance set at 0.05. Results: Mean age of respondents was 57.9 ± 9.8 years, 60.9% were females and 78.0% were married. Some respondents exhibited total adherence to medication (58.9%) and dietary (67.4%) treatment, respectively. Determinants of nonadherence to medication and dietary treatment include using alternative traditional medicine (herbs) for the treatment of the disease (odds ratio (OR) = 0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.568-1.916) and consuming foods more than recommended quantity (OR = 6.28, 95% CI = 3.919-10.083). One of the suggested ways by the respondents to improve adherence to treatment was self-discipline (46.9%). Lack of awareness on the seriousness of the disease (42.6%) was a major challenge confronting patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Creation of awareness on the seriousness of the disease was suggested by 39.1% of respondents. Conclusions: Use of alternative medicine (herbs) and eating more than the recommended quantity of foods remain a challenge among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Comprehensive health promotion and education strategies including patient counseling on diabetes care with emphasis on adherence to medication and dietary treatment regimen should be organized regularly for diabetes patients.
Adherence - medication and dietary treatment - Type 2 diabetes mellitus
