Compliance of Saudi Diabetic Patients With Their Diabetic Medication.

Abstract

Background: In recent years there were a lot of studies showing increasing numbers of complication in diabetic patient in the world include Saudi population. Amongst the most important reasons for such complications is the non-adherence of diabetic patient with their medication, diet and exercise. Objectives: To explore the rate and determinants of non-compliance with diabetic treatment regimen in Saudi Arabia population. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Saudi diabetic patients. Online approach was adopted to enroll patients through filling the study questionnaire throughout the period between 1st to 30 October, 2016. Inclusion criteria were Saudi, diabetic and have online access patients. Our outcomes were compliance with anti diabetic medication and the associated factors. An online pretested semi-structured questionnaire was utilized for date collection. Results: The study included 1473 Saudi diabetic patients. The age of 31.4% of them ranged between 41 and 60 years. Slightly more than half of them (54.1%) were males, married (52.2%), university educated (50.9%) and 60.1% of them were type 2 diabetic patients. Compliance with physicians` visits was reported by majority of them (80.2%). However, this compliance was perfect among 42.5% of patients. Glycated hemoglobin percentage exceeded 8% among 33.7% of patients. Minority of patients (8.7%) reported difficulty in getting antidiabetic drugs. Using traditional medicine in treating diabetes was reported by 14.7% of the participants; however it was a lot among 2.3% of them. Daily compliance with diabetic drugs was reported among 60.3% of the patients. The commonest reported reasons for escaping a daily dose of anti-diabetic drugs were being not definitely explained by physician (52.7%) and forgetting (21.7%). Most of the participants reported being reminded by family members to have the drugs.The most frequent reported sources of patient`s information regarding diabetes were physicians (69.6%) and internet (59.9%). The determinants of none-compliance to anti-diabetic medications were young age, younger age at diagnosis, moderate educational level, type 2 diabetes, absence of co-morbid diseases, never compliance with physicians visits, treatment by anti-diabetics, use of traditional medicine and having information about diabetes from the family.