Determinants of Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Application of Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model

Abstract Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus can increase the risk of various health complications. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the determinants of treatment adherence among patients with this condition based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills model (IMB). Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Kerman in 2023. A total of 676 patients with diabetes were included in the study by a multi-stage sampling method from the cities under cover of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. A researcher-made questionnaire based on the IMB model was used to collect data. SPSS 27 was used for data analysis, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Data analysis showed that motivation and self-efficacy had the greatest impact on medication adherence behavior ( P = 0.029). In addition, older age ( P = 0.05) and having more children ( P = 0.005) were associated with increased adherence. Retired patients ( P = 0.05) exhibited significantly higher adherence rates than housewives ( P = 0.015). Individuals with social security insurance demonstrated lower adherence compared to those with medical service insurance or armed forces insurance ( P = 0.004). Taking one to three medications correlated with higher adherence than taking only one medication ( P = 0.034), while taking medication twice daily also led to increased adherence ( P = 0.033). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that a model-based approach focusing on education and strengthening patient motivation and self-efficacy can effectively increase medication adherence. While analyzing the behavioral patterns of patients with higher adherence rates can provide valuable insights, implementing strategies that target these factors directly can significantly improve medication adherence among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.