Assessment of medication adherence among type 2 diabetic patients in Quetta city, Pakistan

Abstract

This study presents a model that is associated with medication adherence among T2DM patients, with disease-related knowledge as a significant predictor of likely adherence. Results of the current study revealed that improved diabetes related knowledge plays a significant role in improving medication adherence. Healthcare practitioners and the system should formalize and acknowledge patient education as a key component to treat patients with T2DM. This should include a greater role for pharmacists and other professionals.

Knowledge regarding medicines management of type 2 diabetes amongst patients attending a Community Health Centre in South Africa

“…The goal of treatment in patients with T2DM is to keep blood sugar levels at normal or near‐normal levels to help prevent long‐term adverse effects such as neuropathy, for example neuropathic pain, and nephropathy, such as kidney damage leading to dialysis . However, adherence to prescribed medicines is a key concern in patients with T2DM adversely impacting on morbidity and mortality . Adherence rates to medicines amongst patients with T2DM typically range from 36% to 93%; with some authors documenting adherence rates as low as 23% amongst prescribed medicines .…”

“…This is particularly important in patients with T2DM as a combined approach of diet, physical exercise and adherence to medicines helps with glycaemic control to reduce the risk of complications . Nonadherence to medicines in patients with T2DM is believed to be due in part to inadequate patient knowledge and awareness about the importance of adherence, which includes not fully understanding all the drug regimens and their implications, alongside issues of forgetfulness and the lack of support mechanisms . One way to develop pertinent targeted strategies to address important issues such as how patients view and use their medicines is to ascertain patients’ knowledge regarding their medicines …”

“…[17] However, adherence to prescribed medicines is a key concern in patients with T2DM adversely impacting on morbidity and mortality. [15,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Adherence rates to medicines amongst patients with T2DM typically range from 36% to 93% [20] ; with some authors documenting adherence rates as low as 23% amongst prescribed medicines. [23] Adherence rates amongst patients with chronic diseases such as T2DM are typically much lower in developing countries than those seen in developed countries.…”

“…[20] Nonadherence to medicines in patients with T2DM is believed to be due in part to inadequate patient knowledge and awareness about the importance of adherence, which includes not fully understanding all the drug regimens and their implications, alongside issues of forgetfulness and the lack of support mechanisms. [20,[22][23][24]26] One way to develop pertinent targeted strategies to address important issues such as how patients view and use their medicines is to ascertain patients' knowledge regarding their medicines. [9,22,27] Given the rising rates of T2DM in South Africa, we sought as a first step to determine patients' knowledge regarding their medicines for their T2DM amongst those who attended public community health centres (CHCs).…”

“…[20,[22][23][24]26] One way to develop pertinent targeted strategies to address important issues such as how patients view and use their medicines is to ascertain patients' knowledge regarding their medicines. [9,22,27] Given the rising rates of T2DM in South Africa, we sought as a first step to determine patients' knowledge regarding their medicines for their T2DM amongst those who attended public community health centres (CHCs). CHCs are an important part of ambulatory care in the public healthcare system, with currently over 80% of the population in South Africa being treated in public health facilities.…”