Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
2
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: A better understanding of patients' beliefs about medicines in specific and general contexts is of great value in addressing medication adherence with subsequent glycemic control and prevention of complications among diabetic patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore beliefs about medications and their correlates among Type 2 diabetic patients in Upper Egypt.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to January 2023 at Assiut University Hospitals in Assiut district, Egypt. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires, which were filled in by direct interviews with the participants of the study. The questionnaire used was composed of three sections. The first section inquired about socioeconomic characteristics. The second section of the questionnaire was about clinical data. The Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire was the third section of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 26. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The present study included 417 participants (42.4% male, 57.6% female). A high necessity belief was noted among 93% of the participants, indicating strong perceptions of medication benefits, while 67.4% expressed concerns about the long-term effects of medications. Nearly three-quarters of the participants believed in the overuse of medications by doctors, and 51.8% disagreed with the idea that medications cause general harm.
Sociodemographic factors such as residence influenced necessity beliefs. Furthermore, necessity beliefs were significantly associated with the type of medications, medication side effects, blood glucose monitoring, receiving health education, and the presence of comorbid conditions or diabetes complications. Concern beliefs were significantly associated with the types and side effects of medications. Sociodemographic factors (education, marital status, occupation) and clinical factors (BMI, blood glucose monitoring, presence of diabetes complications) significantly influence general overuse scores. Lastly, the general harm score is significantly affected by sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education, and residence, as well as clinical characteristics such as BMI, price of medications, and the presence of comorbid conditions.
Conclusions: Most participants believed in the necessity of medications but expressed moderate concerns about their effects. Different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influenced beliefs about medications, highlighting the need for targeted health education to enhance patients' knowledge about diabetes medications to shape positive beliefs towards it.
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