Barriers to Antidiabetic Medication Adherence among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Mukhtar Ansari

doi:10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i331154

Abstract

This systematic review was conducted with aim of determining different types of barriers that interfere with the adherence to antidiabetic medications among diabetes mellitus patients in Saudi Arabia. A comprehensive systematic literature exploration was performed via databases and search engines as Science Direct, PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and EBSCO. The review includes 20 original research studies on adherence to antidiabetic medications and their associated factors. The review of the studies reveals that the most prominent barriers to antidiabetic medication adherence were forgetfulness, polypharmacy and complexity of regimen, side effects, low perceived self-efficacy of the medications, and feeling better. Likewise, frequent dosing, long history of diabetes, comorbidities, cost of medication or financial issue, disruption of normal routine, carelessness, busy schedule, God centered locus of control, and food habits were among the others. The identified multifaceted barriers can serve as a potential target for interventions to improve adherence to antidiabetic medications and health related quality of life.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting the entire world
One half (45%, n=9) of the studies were conducted in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and University Hospital settings followed by diabetic-care unit or chronic disease centers (20%, n=4)
This review focuses on summarizing those barriers and to suggest the policymakers to address them to the maximal extent possible

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder affecting the entire world. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), nearly 463 million people presented with diabetes in 2019, and the figure is projected to 700 million by 2045 globally. Poor glycemic control can have many implications, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, cost of therapy, and decreased quality of life (QoL). It may cause various microvascular (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) and macrovascular (cardiovascular) complications on long-term [1,7]. This demands a more thorough analysis of various barriers affecting adherence to antidiabetic medications among the people of Saudi Arabia, so that the policymakers could focus on these factors to promote medication adherence and improve health related QoL

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion