Turkish Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol.17, no.3, pp.360-369, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the association between medication adherence and quality of life in patients with diabetes receiving primary healthcare centers.
Method: Patients with type 2 diabetes, aged 18-65 between July and October 2022, were included in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, the Diabetes Quality of Life (DQOL) scale, and the Modified Morisky Scale (MMS) were used.
Results: Two hundred nine patients with type 2 diabetes participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 53.5±9.2 years, and 51.7% were women. The mean DQOL score of the participants was 3.8±0.7. Quality of life was higher among married participants and those with medium-high income, diagnosed with diabetes <5 years previously, without diabetes complications, using only oral antidiabetic drugs for the treatment of diabetes, who regularly used diabetes medications, who dieted and exercised for diabetes, and who regularly attended diabetes follow-up (p<0.05). Quality of life was also higher in those with better MMS showing a better medication adherence motivation and knowledge levels (p<0.01).
Conclusions: Participants' medication adherence motivation and knowledge levels were associated with an increased quality of life. Admission to primary healthcare centers for diabetes follow-up was also associated with a higher quality of life.