Medication adherence and illness perception among diabetic patients in Upper Egypt

Effective diabetes management depends on medication adherence and the illness perception of patients. The primary aim of this study is to investigate medication adherence and illness perception and their correlates among diabetic patients in Upper Egypt.

A cross sectional study was carried out from August 2022 to January 2023 among diabetic patients attending Diabetes Clinic in Upper Egypt. Data was collected through patient interviews. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale has been used to assess medication adherence. Illness perception was measured by using Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. To identify the predictors of medication adherence and illness perception, logistic regression was performed using SPSS version 26. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Out of 417 participants, 30.2% were low adherent to their diabetic medications. Predictors associated with low adherence to diabetic medications were; gender (AOR = 1.93, CI: 1.12-3.34), age (AOR = 0.40, CI: 0.19-0.87), education (AOR = 1.96, CI: 1.08-3.56), diabetes duration (AOR = 2.06, CI: 1.08-3.91), the presence of diabetes complications (AOR = 3.69, CI: 1.73-7.89), body mass index (AOR = 2.08, CI: 1.01-4.29), receiving health education in the last 6 months (AOR = 2.02, CI: 1.21-3.36), and illness perception (AOR = 6.70, CI: 3.62-12.40). A high level of illness perception was detected among 79.4% of the participants. High level of illness perception was significantly associated with residence (AOR = 2.48, CI: 1.37-4.51), presence of other comorbid conditions (AOR = 2.10, CI: 1.18-3.75), and price of medication (AOR = 2.53, CI: 1.07-5.99).

Low adherence to diabetic medications was detected among 30.2% of the studied participants. Strategies aimed at enhancing adherence to diabetic medications should be compulsory. Furthermore, the findings of the current study recommend that illness perceptions of diabetic patients need to be improved.