COMPLIANCE TO DIABETIC THERAPY;

PATIENTS ATTENDING DIABETIC CENTER OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL AT ARAR IN SAUDI ARABIA

Authors

  • Ashfaque Rahim Memon College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohammad Akram Randhawa College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Sami Owaid M Alshammari College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Ahmed Badah Alanazi Prince Sultan Military Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
  • Abdul Aziz Mayouf N Alshammari Prince Sultan Military Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Yosef Soltan H Alrawaili College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
  • Yara Shargi K Alrawaili College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29309/TPMJ/2017.24.03.1561

Keywords:

Diabetes mellitus,, awareness,, compliance,, medication,, dietary control,, exercise,, Northern Region of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objectives: Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Arabian Peninsula has risen to
a very high level especially in Saudi Arabia (32%). Compliance of diabetic patients’ towards
therapy is crucial for diabetic management. According to a study conducted at Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia 83.4% of uncontrolled glycemic level (HbA1c ≥7%) patients did not follow the
recommended dietary plan. Another factor for high rates of un-controlled diabetes was poor
compliance to medication. Present study was aimed to investigate awareness of disease and
drugs, as well as compliance to medication, dietary control and exercise in diabetic patients
reporting to a tertiary hospital at Arar, Saudi Arabia. Study Design: A cross sectional descriptive
study. Setting: Diabetic center of Prince Abdul Aziz bin Mossaid hospital, Arar, Saudi Arabia.
Period: November and December 2015. Methods: Patients’ awareness of disease and drugs,
as well as compliance to medication, dietary control and exercise was investigated by using a
structured questionnaire. Response to various questions was analyzed using SPSS program
version 16. Data was further correlated between variables via Fisher’s exact and chi-squared
test. Result: Average awareness about disease and drugs was 56.5% and 23%, respectively.
Overall compliance rates to medication, dietary control and exercise were 89.3%, 31% &
28.5%, respectively. Positive association was found between awareness to disease/drugs and
compliance to therapy. Conclusion: The results of present study and similar studies conducted
elsewhere indicate that patients’ awareness towards their disease and medication is directly
proportional to patients’ compliance. Adequate awareness programs should be arranged for
better management of diabetes in the community.

Author Biographies

Ashfaque Rahim Memon, College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

MPhil, Department of
Pharmacology,

Mohammad Akram Randhawa, College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

PhD, Department of Pharmacology,

Sami Owaid M Alshammari, College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

Final year medical student

Ahmed Badah Alanazi, Prince Sultan Military Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,

MBBS, Departments of Medicine,

Abdul Aziz Mayouf N Alshammari, Prince Sultan Military Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

MBBS, Departments of Medicine,

Yosef Soltan H Alrawaili, College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

Final year medical student

Yara Shargi K Alrawaili, College of Medicine, Northern Border University, Arar, Saudi Arabia.

Final year medical student

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Published

2017-03-07

Issue

Vol. 24 No. 03 (2017): VOL 24. NO.03

Section

Articles