Firoozeh Mostafavi1, Fereshteh Zamani Alavijeh1, Arash Salahshouri2, Behzad Mahaki3. 1. Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2. Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, 61357 - 15751, Iran. Aidin_salahshouri@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The adherence of diabetic patients to their medication regimen is associated with many psychosocial factors that are still unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the psychosocial barriers to medication adherence of patients with type2 diabetes (T2D). METHODOLOGY: This descriptive qualitative study was done in Isfahan, Iran by conducting in-depth unstructured interviews with 23 purposively selected patients with T2D and 10 healthcare providers (HCPs). The participants were interviewed face-to-face between November 2017 and June 2018 at the patient's home, a Health Care Center, or at the diabetes clinic. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA-10 software and the conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of the data led to six categories of perceived psychosocial barriers: 1) fear, concern and distress, 2) exhaustion and burnout, 3) the children's issues being the priority, 4) poor financial support, 5) communication challenges, and 6) poor work conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified some of the psychosocial barriers to medication adherence of patients with T2D, which will be of great help to researchers and HCPs in designing and implementing effective interventions to overcome these barriers and change patient self-care behaviors and increase their medication adherence.
BACKGROUND: The adherence of diabeticpatients to their medication regimen is associated with many psychosocial factors that are still unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the psychosocial barriers to medication adherence of patients with type2 diabetes (T2D). METHODOLOGY: This descriptive qualitative study was done in Isfahan, Iran by conducting in-depth unstructured interviews with 23 purposively selected patients with T2D and 10 healthcare providers (HCPs). The participants were interviewed face-to-face between November 2017 and June 2018 at the patient's home, a Health Care Center, or at the diabetes clinic. Data analysis was performed using MAXQDA-10 software and the conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The analysis of the data led to six categories of perceived psychosocial barriers: 1) fear, concern and distress, 2) exhaustion and burnout, 3) the children's issues being the priority, 4) poor financial support, 5) communication challenges, and 6) poor work conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified some of the psychosocial barriers to medication adherence of patients with T2D, which will be of great help to researchers and HCPs in designing and implementing effective interventions to overcome these barriers and change patient self-care behaviors and increase their medication adherence.