Assessment of Medication Adherence for Controlling Diabetes in Andhra Pradesh

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and a rapidly growing public health problem that affects millions of people. It usually co-exists with other medical conditions, and its prevalence is increasing year by year reaching epidemic proportions. Diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India. Patients’ adherence to their anti-diabetic medications is a critical and important factor to prevent serious undesirable complications and to reduce the health care resource utilizations. This study focuses on assessing the risk factors, evaluating disease progression, improving management and medication adherence through patient counselling. A prospective observational study was conducted in rural area of Mangalagiri for 6 months August–January (2018–19).Subjects satisfying study criteria are enrolled by obtaining signed inform consent form. Subject information was gathered by data collection form containing demographic details, prescribed medications and were secured. Each patient was counselled in every review. Morisky medication adherence scale-8 was filled by every subject before and after counselling. Medication adherence score was calculated by MMAS-8. Study identified that patient counselling was successful with significant changes in life style modifications, dietary patterns, decreased alcohol consumption. Medication adherence was also improved which was low at the commencement of the study. In this study there was a significant improvement in quality of health education and adherence to medication in diabetics taking part in an educational session focusing on the importance of anti-diabetes medication and adherence to it.