OBJECTIVES

: To assess the level of medication adherence to anti-diabetic therapy and identify the barriers encountered while adhering to therapy among type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients.

METHODS

: Cross sectional descriptive quantitative study was conducted in a hospital in Nepal. Medication adherence was assessed using validated survey form for medication adherence consisting of eight questions; Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS 8 item).

RESULTS

: The adherence levels were 63.4%, 33.3% and 3.3% for medium, low and high adherence, respectively. The correlation between patient’s socio demographic characteristics and adherence level to anti diabetic therapy indicated that higher prevalence of medium adherence among men (64.6%), those who used to visit clinic frequently (68%) and graduated patients (70.90%). The result showed better percentage of medium adherence in patients who stay in nuclear family (65.9%). The most common causes for non-adherence were forgetfulness (28%), missing medication (4.9%), perception of feeling better (1.6%), inconvenience in taking medication (57.7%) and difficulty in remembering to take all medications (67.5%). The participants in the area of study were moderately adherent to their anti-diabetic medications.

CONCLUSIONS

: The study showed need of intervention programs to address factors identified in order to improve adherence and in turn improve blood glucose level.