Medication Adherence among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A CrossSectional Study at an Urban Health Training Centre in Mysuru, India

Introduction: Diabetes is one of the four priority noncommunicable diseases globally, due to its significant burden and associated complications. Effective management of diabetes requires good medication adherence, which plays a crucial role in minimising complications and adverse health outcomes. However, non adherence to diabetic medications remains a major public health challenge. Key factors contributing to poor adherence include irregular access to medications, polypharmacy (increased number of drugs), side-effects, and lack of awareness. Assessing the extent and impact of these factors is essential for developing appropriate interventions aimed at improving medication adherence among individuals with diabetes. Aim: To estimate the proportion of medication compliance among registered patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC) of MMCRI, Mysuru, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: The present community-based crosssectional study was conducted among registered type 2 diabetes mellitus patients under UHTC, MMCRI, Mysuru, Karnataka, India. from June 2021 to May 2022 (1 year). Inclusion criteria included consenting adult patients registered during the data collection period. A sample size of 220 was estimated based on a 50.9% adherence rate. Multistage sampling was used: Stage-1 involved selection of number of patients in each subcentres by probability proportional to size, and Stage-2 used simple random sampling to select the registered number of patients under the subcentre. Ethical clearance was obtained. Data were collected monthly by interviewing patients at their residences using a structured questionnaire. It included, sociodemographic features and medication adherence scale. Medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Data were analysed using MS Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v23, applying proportions, frequencies, and Chi-square tests (p=0.05). Results: In the study, 107 (48.6%) of participants were male and 113 (51.3%) were female. Among them, 129 (58.6%) demonstrated good adherence to diabetic medications, 13 (5.9%) had moderate adherence, and 78 (35.45%) showed poor adherence. The findings revealed that medication adherence declined with increasing age. Additionally, factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, and educational level were significantly associated with adherence levels. Conclusion: With the growing burden of diabetes in India, ensuring consistent medication adherence is crucial to prevent complications and enhance the overall quality of life for patients.