Understanding Medication-Related Belief in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: a Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

Background: The medication belief and appropriate and on-time medication usage are crucial determinants of diabetes control. The present systematic review has been conducted to examine the status of the medication beliefs of patients with type 2 diabetes based on a meta-analysis. Materials and methods: This study is a systematic review based on a meta-analysis conducted in 2021. Keywords “Medication belief”, “BMQ (Belief in Medication Questionnaire)”, “patients with type 2 diabetes”, “diabetes mellitus” were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science direct, Magiran, SID, and Irandoc database from 2010 to 2021. The pooled score of medication belief and its dimensions were estimated through a random-effects meta-analysis using STATA 15. Also, heterogeneity across the articles was determined with the I 2 statistic. Results: Out of 584 articles, 8 studies were selected and analyzed. Based on estimates obtained from the random effects method, the pooled score of medication belief was obtained at 2.877 (95% CI: 2.22–3.53). Also, the pooled scores of specific necessity, specific concern, general harm and general overuse were calculated at 3.60 (95% CI: 2.92–4.06), 3.02 (95% CI: 2.19–3.85), 2.26 (95% CI: 1.50–3.02) and 2.54 (95% CI: 1.96–3.12) respectively. Conclusions: Health policymakers and economists need to take steps to increase the health literacy of patients with type 2 diabetes and improve the medication belief dimensions to reduce the disease costs to provide a better quality of life for patients with type 2 diabetes. Various programs are underway in developed countries. Public education about the side effects of diabetes drugs, narcotics, and drug dependence reduces patients’ worries and anxieties, which in turn reduces their anxious thoughts and brings relief to patients.