BackgroundPatients’ non-adherence to diabetes medication is associated with poor glycemic control and suboptimal benefits from their prescribed medication, which can lead to worsening of medical condition, development of comorbidities, reduced quality of life, elevated health care costs, and increased mortality.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess medication adherence among patients with diabetes and associated factors in Bisha primary health care centers (PHCCs) in Saudi Arabia.Patients and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 375 type 1 and 2 Saudi diabetic patients attending PHCCs under the Health Affairs of the Bisha governorate. The participants were aged 18 years and above, and had been taking diabetes medications for at least 3 months. Pregnant women, patients with mental illnesses, and those who were not willing to participate were excluded. Adherence to diabetes medications was measured using the four-item Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS). All participants completed a self-report questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical variables. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out using SPSS version 22.ResultsOf all the respondents, 134 (35.7%), 161 (42.9%), and 80 (21.4%), patients had high (MGLS score 0), intermediate (MGLS score 1 or 2), and low adherence (MGLS score ≥3), respectively. Factors associated with the level of adherence in univariate analysis were occupational status (P=0.037), current medication (P<0.001), glycated hemoglobin (A1c) (P<0.001), and number of associated comorbidities (P<0.001). In multivariable analyses, A1c <7 (P<0.001) and no associated comorbidities (P<0.003) variables remained significantly associated with adherence.ConclusionThe level of adherence to medication in diabetes mellitus patients in the Bisha PHCCs was found to be suboptimal. The findings point toward the need for better management of primary health care providers’ approaches to individual patients, by taking into account their medication adherence levels. Better identification of patients’ level of adherence remains essential for successful diabetes treatment.

Background Many organizations have suggested a minimum standard of counseling for patients, which includes information about the name of the drug, description, indication, how to use it, the method of treatment, precautions, adverse reactions, and any contraindications. Correspondingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended spending at least 3 minutes with each patient to undertake counseling. The present study aimed to evaluate the practice of counseling by community pharmacists for both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-only medicines in Bisha Health Directorate, Saudi Arabia. Method This was a cross-sectional study designed to be a simulation patient visit to community pharmacies at Bisha area. The simulated patient visit were include 73 pharmacies. Two scenarios were used in the simulated patient visit. The first scenario was for a prescription-only medicine and the second scenario was for an OTC medicine. The time recorded for every visit to evaluate counsling period. Results A total of 105 visits were conducted to the community pharmacies as follows: scenario 1 = 73 and scenario 2 = 32. The average time for the simulation was 110 seconds in scenario 1 and 73.4 seconds in scenario 2. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between the period it took for the simulation scenario and the time of visit during the day (rho = −0.396, p = 0.001) in the patient simulation. Conclusion It that the service in community pharmacies is selling medicines and patient needs to be given a greaterin these community pharmacies.