Medication Adherence Interventions Among People Living with Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Public Health
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Medication adherence is a critical component in managing Diabetes Mellitus (DM).
• Numerous interventions have been developed to enhance patient adherence to prescribed treatments.
• Effective adherence strategies are vital for improving health outcomes in diabetic populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the efficacy of diverse interventions designed to improve medication adherence in individuals with diabetes.
• To evaluate the impact of various intervention types on medication adherence rates in the diabetic population.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across five major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, ProQuest) for studies published between January 2015 and April 2025.
• Included studies focused on people with diabetes and interventions targeting medication adherence, prioritizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English.
• Study selection and quality assessment were conducted independently by three researchers.

Main Results:

• Thirty-eight studies were included, with 18 assessed as low risk of bias.
• Face-to-face education and multi-component interventions were the most common strategies, particularly in developing countries.
• The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) was frequently used for adherence measurement; eight studies integrated theoretical models.

Conclusions:

• Both traditional and modern interventions show potential for improving medication adherence in people with diabetes.
• Multi-component interventions appear to be the most effective strategy.
• Future research should explore theoretical model integration and long-term effectiveness across diverse populations.