FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COMPLIANCE TO TREATMENT AMONG TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS ATTENDING DIABETES OUTPATIENT CLINIC AT MOI TEACHING AND REFERRAL HOSPITAL, ELDORET, KENYA
Abstract
Medication and treatment noncompliance among type 2 diabetes patients has
been shown to predict morbidity, disability, immature mortality and general poor
health outcome. Given the increased risks associated with poor treatment compliance,
the study aimed at assessing the rate of compliance, as well as factors associated with
compliance to treatment among type 2 diabetes patients attending the Diabetes
Outpatient Clinic at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya. The study
adopted a cross-sectional study design, with data collection taking place over duration
of 3 months. Data was entered into SPSS version 20.0 and analyzed using stepwise
multiple regression and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient to assess
for associations of social demographic and social economic factors with compliance
to medication and lifestyle modification. Rate of compliance was computed as a
percentage on basis of means from indicators of compliance as captured in the
questionnaires. Factors associated with compliance were considered to be significant
at p < 0.05. The rate of compliance to treatment among type 2 diabetics was 79.9%
while health education (p = 0.045), depression (p = 0.001) and duration on medication
(p = 0.021) were the only factors found to be significantly associated with treatment
compliance. Therefore, from the study it was concluded that compliance to treatment
was 79.9% and patients who are not depressed, have taken medication for a longer
time, and have received adequate health education are more compliant. The study
recommended that health education efforts as well as strategies to diagnose and
manage depression among type 2 diabetics should be enhanced among key Ministry
of Health stakeholders in charge of diabetes care programs.