Abstract: Achieving optimal medication-taking behavior is of central importance in diabetes resolution. It is the result of a healthy collaboration between the healthcare provider and the patient. Social support plays a role in diabetes-specific quality of life and self-care activities. It encompasses multiple dimensions that differentially influence specific diabetes health-related outcomes and behaviors. Certain social support interventions are known to affect self-care activities and outcomes in diabetic patients. Social influences dictate dietary as well as medication-taking behaviors. They are of central importance in diabetes care. Having adequate understanding of adherence and social influences is vital for improving outcomes. This study was performed to assess medication adherence and social influences in diabetes inpatients. A self-designed questionnaire was employed to assess medication adherence in patients previously diagnosed with DM, who were already on medication and to collect information related to social influences. The patients were identified from their case report forms. The patients previously diagnosed with DM or their carers were asked 5 questions for assessment of adherence to anti-diabetic medications prior to their admission to the hospital. For assessing social influences, the patients were asked 3 questions related to their family influences. Our findings emphasize on the need to conduct a serious intervention in drug use by improving patients’ compliance to physicians’ prescription. We encourage the use of novel techniques to mitigate the compliance problems in diabetic patients. 56% patients reported that one or more member(s) in their family apart from themselves had DM. 63.4% patients admitted that their family members were aware of their DM. 35.8% patients reported that their family members encouraged them to indulge in physical activity and diet control. It is necessary to counsel family members regarding the importance of early diagnosis of DM, the warning signs for DM and the need to indulge in regular exercise and diet control to prevent or mitigate DM.
Keywords: Self-care, medication adherence, diabetes mellitus, social influences, family influences.
Title: Assessment of medication adherence and social influences among hospitalized diabetic patients
Author: D Sai Harsha Vardhan, Niladri Chakraborty, Danial Esfandiari, Saroj Kumar Yadav, Dr. Kannan G
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
