Abstract

HABTE, Bruck M.; KEBEDE, Tedla; FENTA, Teferi G.  and  BOON, Heather. Barriers and facilitators to adherence to anti-diabetic medications: Ethiopian patients' perspectives. Afr. j. prim. health care fam. med. (Online) [online]. 2017, vol.9, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 2071-2936.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v9i1.1411.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the experiences of Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes related to adherence to their anti-diabetic medications. This may limit attempts to develop and implement patient-centred approaches that consider Ethiopian contexts. OBJECTIVES: To conduct an exploratory study with a focus on identifying barriers and facilitators to anti-diabetic medications adherence in Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Qualitative methods were used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 39 purposively selected participants attending clinic in three public hospitals in central Ethiopia. Open coding was used to analyse the data to identify key themes. RESULTS: A number of factors were identified as barriers and facilitators to participants' adherence to their anti-diabetic medications. The most common factors were perceptions related to their illness including symptoms, consequences and curability; perceptions of medications including safety concerns, convenience and their necessity; religious healing practices and beliefs; perceptions about and experiences with their healthcare providers and the healthcare system including the availability of medications and diabetes education; and finally perceived self-efficacy and social support. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide guidance to strengthen diabetes education programmes so that they reflect local patient contexts focusing among other things on the illness itself and the anti-diabetic medications.

        · text in English     · English ( pdf )