Among Diabetic Patients in Najran Armed Forces Hospital

Abstract

Aim of Study: To investigate what factors affect patients’ compliance with an insulin regimen as part of self-management in Najran Armed Forces Hospital. Methodology: This study followed an exploratory descriptive cross-sectional research design. The study population consisted of diabetic patients receiving insulin. A simple random sampling technique was followed to select diabetic patients among those registered at the Chronic Disease Clinics at Najran Armed Forces Hospital. A Self-administered questionnaire was constructed and used to collect data over a two-week period. Results: The study sample included 90 patients, of whom 53.3% were males. Many participants expressed poor attitudes and lacked self-management skills and the necessary health education information. There were statistically significant associations regarding the relationship between poor attitude and poor self-management. Participants’ knowledge regarding how to take insulin injections; fear of insulin injection; having a monitoring device; health conditions; diabetes type residence location education; and seeing diabetes educators were significant factors related to patients’ attitudes. Conclusion: Diabetic patients’ compliance regarding self-management advice is variable. It is of utmost importance for diabetic patients to be educated and supported in all aspects of self-management to avoid diabetes complications. Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Compliance, Insulin regimen, Saudi Arabia.