The Effect of Pharmacist Counseling on Adherence to Antidiabetic Medications and Glycemic Control

Controlling blood glucose is paramount in diabetes management, yet medication non-adherence often hinders optimal outcomes. This study investigated the impact of pharmacist counseling on Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) levels and medication adherence in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients within a rural primary healthcare setting. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was employed with 112 T2DM outpatients from Puskemas Simpang Mamplam, Bireuen City, Aceh, Indonesia, from March to April 2024. Medication adherence was assessed using the MARS-10 Questionnaire, and FBG levels were measured via finger prick. The majority of participants were female (79.5%), aged 41-60 (45.5%, mean age 55.70 ± 10.07 years), with secondary education (43.8%), predominantly sedentary/inactive workers (60.7%), and reported low-income (38.4%). Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed rank Test. Following counseling, which was provided every two weeks over the two-months period, the mean medication adherence score significantly increased (p < 0.001) from 3.150 ± 0.942 to 8.790 ± 1.297. FBG levels also significantly decreased (p