Factores Que Contribuyen Al Incumplimiento De Hipoglucemiantes Orales Entre Los Pacientes Ambulatoriales Diabéticos Tipo 2 En El Suroeste De Nigeria

www.pharmacypractice.org (ISSN: 1886-3655) 163 ABSTRACT Objective: The overall goal of the study was to evaluate the probable reasons for patients’ nonadherence to prescribed oral hypoglycemic medications in an ambulatory care setting in Nigeria with a view to identifying points for necessary intervention to improve adherence and treatment outcomes. Also, the recommended non-drug management options for diabetes patients with emphasis on self monitoring of blood glucose were assessed. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a 200-bed secondary health care facility in Southwestern Nigeria between 2 April and 31 May 2008. Copies of pre-tested questionnaire were administered directly to 121 ambulatory patients with type 2 diabetes at the study site. Information on socio-demographic characteristic, probable barriers that affect adherence to prescribed oral hypoglycemic medications, non-drug treatment options for diabetes, and patients’ self management efforts were obtained. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were used to evaluate the distribution of respondents’ opinion. Results: The response rate was almost 100%. The commonly cited intentional nonadherence practice included dose omission (70.2%). Almost 50% respondents were fed up with daily ingestion of drugs and 19.8% were inconvenienced with taking medications outside home and gave these as reasons for the dose omission. Forgetfulness (49.6%) and high cost of medication (35.5%) were mentioned as major non-intentional reasons for nonadherence. Aside oral medications, 82.6% and 95.0% of respondents respectively, reported moderate exercise and dietary restrictions as part of the prescribed treatment modalities. More than two third of respondents (81.8%) had never monitored blood glucose by themselves. Significant association exist between sex, occupation and patients’ tendencies to forget doses of prescribed oral medications (p<0.05). Conclusion: Nonadherence behaviors among ambulatory patients with type 2 diabetes occur mostly, as omission and forgetfulness of doses of