Abstract
BackgroundLittle 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.ObjectivesTo conduct an exploratory study with a focus on identifying barriers and facilitators to anti-diabetic medications adherence in Ethiopian patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsQualitative 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.ResultsA 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.ConclusionsThe 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.
Highlights
Diabetes mellitus, described as ‘one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century’, is among the non-communicable diseases that continue to rapidly increase in numbers and significance especially in the developing world
Patients who are diagnosed with diabetes are seen in the diabetes centre that was run by three endocrinologists and two endocrinology fellows who work as consultants on a rotating basis during the study period, around six internal medicine residents assigned to take the primary role in managing the patients during their monthlong attachments, six nurses and one recently recruited pharmacist
The clinical services for patients with diabetes were primarily given in the general outpatient department that was run at the time by four general practitioners
Summary
Diabetes mellitus, described as ‘one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century’, is among the non-communicable diseases that continue to rapidly increase in numbers and significance especially in the developing world. The African region is home to around 14.2 million people with diabetes of which 1.3 million are in Ethiopia. These figures are expected to rapidly increase along with increases in urbanisation and life expectancy.[1] Type 2, which is the most common type of diabetes, has been associated with rapid economic development, increasing urbanisation, ageing populations, reduced physical activity and unhealthy diets. 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
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