Adherence to medications among adults with diabetes mellitus in the urban field practice area of a private medical college in Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: Poor adherence is likely to lead to increased complications of diabetes resulting in increased costs of health care and increased morbidity and mortality for the population in the long term. The present study was designed to assess the socio-demographic profile and adherence to medications among adults with diabetes mellitus on treatment residing at urban field practice area of a private medical college in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 150 adults with Diabetes Mellitus residing at Urban Field Practice Area of Raja Rajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore. Data entry was done in MS excel and analyzed in SPSS software.

Results: Out of 150 study subjects, it was observed that majority, 54 (36%) of the study subjects had disease duration of more than 5 years. High, moderate and low adherence to medication was found among25 (16.67%), 91 (60.67%) and 34 (22.66%) of the study subjects respectively. Low adherence was observed to be higher 20(58.8%) among study subjects with disease duration of more than 5 years as compared to other categories. Co-morbidity was absent in majority, 24 (70.6%) of the study subjects with low adherence.

Conclusion: It is evident that there is a great need on the part of health care providers to not only prescribe medications to the patients with diabetes mellitus but also make a conscious effort to address the issue of non-adherence to the prescribed medications and other non-pharmacological measures.