Medication-taking behaviour in New South Wales patients with type 2 diabetes: an observational study

This study aimed to (1) determine adherence to diabetes medication in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients; (2) describe respondents' attitudes and beliefs about medications, and barriers to adherence; and (3) to model predictors of non-adherence. Data were collected using online and postal surveys. Diabetes patients aged 18 years who were members of the Australian Diabetes Council were invited to participate. Main outcome measures were adherence to diabetes medication using 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Score (MMAS-8) and beliefs about medication using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire. A total of 543 T2D patients responded to the survey. The median (interquartile range) MMAS-8 score was 6.8 (5.0-7.0). The prevalence of adherence (MMAS-8 score 6) was 64.6%. The proportion of respondents who expressed concern about taking medications was 53.6%. Potential predictors of adherence included age (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19-2.82), concern about medication (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96), knowledge of diabetes (OR, 0.85, 95% CI, 0.73-0.99), having difficulty in paying for medication (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.33-0.79), having more than one regular pharmacy (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.95), and using insulin (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.81). Adherence to taking diabetes medication in a sample of the Australian T2D patient population was suboptimal. An understanding of medication-taking behaviour will assist health-care professionals to deliver appropriate and effective interventions to enhance adherence and optimise diabetes control in T2D patients.