Family support, medication adherence andglycaemic control among ambulatory type 2 diabetic Nigerians in a primary care clinic in Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed at determining the role of family support in medication adherence and glycemic control among ambulatory Type 2 diabetic patients in a primary care clinic in Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A clinic-based descriptive study was done on 120 Type 2 diabetic Nigerians who were on treatment for at least 3 months at the primary care clinic in Nigeria. Family support and medication adherence were assessed in the previous 3 months and 1 month preceding the study using multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and interviewer-administered questionnaire on self-administered and reported therapy (SAT), respectively. Glycemic control was assessed in the previous 1 month. Results: The age of the participants ranged from 27 to 81 years, and there were 37.5% males and 62.5% females with sex ratio of 1:1.7. Family support, medication adherence, and glycemic control rates were 77.5%, 72.5%, and 61.7%, respectively. Family support was significantly associated with elderly age (0.041), medication adherence (P = 0.038), and glycemic control (P = 0.027). The most significant demographic predictor of family support was elderly age (odds ratio = 4.30 [2.06–5.15]; P = 0.015). The elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes were four times more likely to have family support compared to their counterparts who were <60 years. Conclusion: This study has shown the level of family support, medication adherence, and glycemic control among patients with Type 2 diabetes. Family support was significantly associated with elderly age, medication adherence, and glycemic control. Interventions to improve medication adherence and glycemic control should consider measures to enhance family support and this could be used to plan diabetes-oriented management decisions.