Beliefs about medications, health anxiety, and educational impact on treatment adherence in type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study

Low medication adherence is one of the leading causes that affect glycemic control and the achievement of target levels for type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It is hypothesized that negative beliefs about medications and high health anxiety may reduce adherence, while positive treatment beliefs could enhance it. This study aims to assess the impact of treatment beliefs and health anxiety on medication adherence among individuals with T2DM. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 356 T2DM patients. The study was conducted between July 2022 and January 2023 in a state hospital in Turkiye. Data were collected using the Morisky Green Levine Medication Adherence Scale (MGLS), the beliefs about medicines questionnaire [BMQ-Turkish translation (BMQ-T)] and the health anxiety inventory (HAI). According to the study's findings, 42.7% of the participants adhered to the treatment. The mean age of the participants was 60.64 ± 12.13 years. It was found that with a low level of education, namely illiterate patients (β = 1.625, P = .003) and primary school graduates (β = 0.995, P = .008), the BMQ-T subscales of specific necessity (β = -0.340, P = .016) and general harm (β = 0.445, P = .001) had an independent predictor effect on medication adherence scores. Health anxiety was not found to affect treatment adherence (P = .947). Based on the findings of this study, low education levels, along with negative beliefs about the necessity of treatment and concerns about medication harm, are significant independent predictors of low medication adherence. To improve adherence, targeted educational interventions should be developed to address these misconceptions, focusing on patients with lower education levels. Additionally, policy changes should integrate structured educational programs and guidance on the benefits and safety of treatment, ensuring long-term adherence support for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.