Factors Associated with Non Adherence to Diabetic Medical Regimen Among Diabetic Patients Attending Mengo Hospital.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of adherence rates to diabetic regimen and factors associated with it in Uganda and Mengo Hopital in particular. A collaborative participation of the patient voluntarily in the management of disease conditions for the betterment of therapeutic outcomes defines the concept of adherence. Patient involvement from the stage of goal setting, treatment planning and implementation of the therapy facilitates desirable outcomes in the aspect of adherence.

Objective: To assess the factors associated with non adherence to diabetic medical regimen among diabetic patients attending Mengo hospital.

Methods: Semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the patients randomly selected from Mengo hospital. A total of 101 diabetic patients were included in the study and non adherence was assessed using patients self reports, optimal adherence was set at a score of 80% and non adherence at a score of less than 80%. Results The prevalence of non-adherence was 37.6% (n = 101). Factors that were independently associated with non-adherence were being female, being of younger age, low education level, being employed (p<0.05), attitude of the health workers, waiting time before patient is attended to (p<0.5) and not understanding drug regimen.

Conclusions: Adherence to diabetic treatment among the patients was suboptimal. There is need to improve it through approaches that can enable patients to comprehend their drug regimens, checking the attitude of the health workers at the hospital and giving shorter time between visits to health worker. Studies to find out why female patients are not adhering to regimen are also needed.