Medication adherence and self-care behaviours among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ghana

• Published in: PloS one 2020-08, Vol.15 (8), p.e0237710-e0237710
• Main Authors: Afaya, Richard Adongo, Bam, Victoria, Azongo, Thomas Bavo, Afaya, Agani, Kusi-Amponsah, Abigail, Ajusiyine, James Mbangbe, Abdul Hamid, Tahiru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Age; Behavior; Biology and Life Sciences; Care and treatment; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetics; Drugs; Education; Gestational diabetes; Health sciences; Hospitals; Knowledge; Low level; Management; Maternal & child health; Medical research; Medication adherence; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nursing schools; Patient compliance; Patients; Questionnaires; Regression analysis; Self care (Health); Social aspects; Social Sciences; Studies; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237710

Diabetes often coexists with other medical conditions and is a contributing cause of death in 88% of people who have it. The study aimed at evaluating medication adherence, self-care behaviours and diabetes knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ghana. A total of 330 participants were recruited into the study from three public hospitals in the Tamale metropolis. A validated medication adherence questionnaire and the Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities tool were used to assess medication adherence and self-care activities respectively. Logistic and linear regressions were used to determine factors positively associated with non-adherence to medication and self-care behaviours respectively. Of the 330 participants whose data were analysed, the mean (SD) age was 57.5 (11.8) years. The majority (84.5%) were adherent to anti-diabetes medication. Participant's age, educational level, and practice of self-care behaviours influenced adherence to anti-diabetes medication. Participants aged 70 years and above were 79% less likely to be non-adherent to medication as compared to those below 50 years [OR = 0.21 (95%CI: 0.06-0.74), p = 0.016]. Participants with senior high school education were 3.7 times more likely to be non-adherent to medication than those with tertiary education [OR = 3.68 (95%CI: 1.01-13.44), p = 0.049]. Participants with tertiary education had an increase in the level of practice of self-management by 1.14 (p = 0.041). A unit increase in knowledge score also increased the level of practice of self-management by 3.02 (p