A Cross-sectional Study on Medication Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic disorder and requires long-term therapy. Lack of adherence to anti-diabetic medication causes suboptimal glycemic control and can lead to treatment failures, development of complications, and increased mortality. The objective of the study was to determine the adherence of medications among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. To evaluate adherence to therapy and study factors associated with nonadherence and adherence in patients with type II diabetics mellitus.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted for a period of 6 months in three hospitals .A total of 200 type II diabetic patients, who were on anti- diabetic drug therapy for at least 6 months, were enrolled. Blood glucose was measured and details of drug therapy were noted. Medication adherence was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and adherence scores were calculated.

Results: Only 15% had high medication adherence, while 24% had moderate and 61% had low medication adherence. Only 30% were having optimally controlled glycemic levels, whereas 70% were having uncontrolled glycemic levels. Medication adherence scores were lower (reflecting lower adherence) in type II patients with uncontrolled glycemic levels than those having optimally controlled glycemic levels, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Interpretation and Conclusion: Overall, the medication adherence was low in type II diabetic patients. The study shows that to improve medication adherence, better counseling and health education of patients are required. Although most patients were adherent to therapy, adherent patients are more likely to achieve glycemic control than no nadherent patients. Greater efforts are needed to facilitate diabetes self management behaviours to improve patient outcomes. There is a need for regular monitoring of patient adherence to medication and initiate steps to improve the adherence to anti dabetic medication. Therefore, counselling and health education of the patients related to medication adherence and strateagies to increase drug availability need to be improved.