Assessing Medication Adherence and Quality of Life among Type 2 Diabetic Outpatients in Al-Hilla, Iraq 2023

Objective: The rising occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iraq, impacted by changes in lifestyle and strain on the healthcare system, is worsened by the significant issue of inadequate treatment adherence. As a result, this scenario leads to inadequate glycemic control and an increased risk of severe disease complications. The objective of this research was to assess medication adherence and quality of life (QOL) in indivduals with type 2 diabetes at the Al-Hilla Diabetic Center in 2023. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at diabetic centers and outpatient clinics in Marjan Hospital and Imam Al-Sadiq Hospital in Al-Hilla City, Babylon Province, Iraq. A total of 355 patients with T2DM who were attending diabetic centers and hospitals in Al-Hilla, Babylon were included in the study using a convenience sampling method. Regression linear tests were utilized to explore the factors that may influence adherence. Results: The data analysis showed that the QOL was relatively good (47.32± 22.13) and medication adherence was 4.64± 1.42. This study indicated that age significantly influences the QOL of patients with T2DM (P≤ 0.001). Additionally, medication adherence was found to be significantly associated with age, work, educational level, income, and living condition (P≤ 0.001), while there was no statistical significance observed with marital status and gender (P≥ 0.001). Conclusion: Diabetes Nurse Specialists need to consider factors that impact QOL and develop strategies to enhance both QOL and medication adherence.