Background:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a global health challenge and its prevalence is rapidly increasing particularly in developing countries. Adherence to medication is important to prevent or delay complications. Family support is helpful in improving medication adherence. The study compared adherence to oral glucose lowering agents among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with good and poor family support with the overall goal of improving diabetes care.

Methods:

A hospital based prospective cohort study was carried out at the Outpatient Department of Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, between January and April 2016. Respondents were recruited by systematic random sampling (N=132), and allocated to two groups based on family support scores. Data was collected at baseline, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. All data was analysed using Epi Info 3.5.4.

Results:

Medication adherence scores were generally low (5.54±1.7) among the study participants. Respondents had comparable medication adherence scores at baseline (p =0.39) and 4 weeks (p =0.75), but the difference was significant at eight weeks (p =0.01). Multiple logistic regression showed that good family support (OR 2.042; 95% CI 1.219-3.420; p =0.007), age group 45 to 54 years and age group 55-64 years (OR 3.084; 95% CI 1.113-8.543; p =0.03) were significant predictors of good medication adherence.

Conclusion:

Good family support is a significant predictor of good medication adherence among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients