Drug therapy and medication adherence in type 2 diabetes in a care facility: A cross sectional survey

Abstract

Background: Adherence to medications improves glycaemic control and reduces diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Objectives: The study assessed drug therapy for type 2 diabetes, glycaemic control and association of medication adherence with socio-demographic and clinical data, among adult diabetic patients attending a healthcare facility. Methods: Cross-sectional survey and hospital records were used to obtain data. The study included 200 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Nigerian healthcare facility. Data on patients clinical characteristics, diabetes drug therapy and medication adherence were collected, entered and anlaysed using SPSS version 24 (P 0.05), unlike results of blood glucose self-tests (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Oral antidiabetics, particularly metformin and pioglitazone were mostly used. Poor glycaemic control and moderate adherence were found in the patients, and medication adherence was associated with self-glucose monitoring. This emphasises the need for regular diabetes education on medication adherence.

Keywords

• Nigeria
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Medication adherence
• Glycaemic control
• Health facility
• Low socio-economic population