Factors Influencing Adherence to Self-Care Practices Among Diabetes Patients in a Selected Tertiary Hospital, Osun State

Abstract

Aims: Diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease with many irreversible complications that can be prevented by strict adherence to self-care practice. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing adherence to self-care practices among diabetes patients Study Design: This study adopted a descriptive research design carried out among diabetes patients attending outpatient endocrinology clinic of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State between July and September 2021. Methodology: Sample size was calculated using Cochran formula and total number of sample used were two hundred and eight (208) diabetes patients. Samples were selected using convenient sampling technique. A self-developed structured Questionnaire on knowledge of diabetes and factors influencing adherence to diabetes self-care practices with reliability index of 0.858 and 0.863 respectively. Two (2) adapted questionnaire; Diabetes self-care practices by Schmitt et al (2013) and Level of adherence to self-care practices scale by Morisky et al. (1986) with reliability index of 0.731 and 0.851 respectively were also used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation while inferential statistics of Pearson product moment correlation and regression were used to test stated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The result from the study revealed good knowledge of diabetes mellitus and diabetes self-care practices among the respondents. The results also revealed high level of adherence to diabetes medication, diet, physical activity, blood glucose testing, follow-up and foot care. Factors influencing the level of adherence with diabetes self-care practices include cost of treatment, longer year of being diagnosed, good relationship between healthcare team, level of education, good family and social support. There is also a significant relationship between knowledge of diabetes mellitus and adherence with physical activity (r = 0.210; P = 0.02) and blood glucose testing (r = 0.203; P = 0.003). However, there is no significant relationship between knowledge of self-care practices and adherence to self-care practices; socio-demographic characteristics of age (r = -0.040; P = 0.568), education (r = 0.112; P = 0.107) and adherence to self-care practices. Conclusion: The study concluded that there was high level of knowledge about diabetes and diabetes self-care practices as well as adherence to diabetes self-care practices, therefore, health care providers should continue to monitor self-care practices among diabetes patients to achieve positive health outcome and reduce morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes mellitus.