Factors Influencing Treatment Adherence Among Newly Diagnosed Diabetic Clients of Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (Lekma)

Abstract

The study focused on assessing compliance among newly diagnosed diabetic client in Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) Hospital. A descriptive survey design was adopted and 120 diabetic patients were sampled using random sampling techniques. A self-developed questionnaire instrument was the main data collection tool and quantitative analysis was used with the aid of IBM SPSS (v.23). The study found that most of the respondents were of the view that diabetes mellitus was hereditary. It was recorded that all respondents considered hospital-based treatment as effective in treating the condition.  About 90 (72.0%) were of the view that of a diabetic patient skipped a dose, he/she was to ignore that dose and wait till the time for the next dose. Moreover, 116 (92.0%) respondents shared with researcher that diabetics were supposed to avoid all fatty foods. All respondents visited the hospital facility on a monthly basis to receive medical-care.  Female turn to have adhered more to their medication regimen than the males did, but it was not statistically significant (t=.047, p= .963). Age has negative relationship (r = -.123, p= 533) with their adherence to medication. It was realized that those who had secondary education adhered mostly to diabetic medications followed by tertiary education and primary education attainers respectively.  There was a positive relationship (r = .050, p=0.732) between the marital status, occupational status (r = .272, p = .056) of respondents and their adherence status to taking medications.  Respondents (40%) disagreed that prescribed medications were fully covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).  All of the respondents agreed that finance was a challenge to seeking treatment and medical care for the management of DM. About 40 percent of the respondents feared about side effect of drugs. It was recommended that government should extend the NHIS to cater for DM medications. There was also the need that government subsidized the treatment cost of patients seeking for healthcare with respect to DM