Association between Diabetes-Related Distress and Medication Adherence among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Southwest Nigerian.

Background: Diabetes-related distress is a common complication that usually impacts the well-being, health outcomes and adherence to medications, especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Hence, this study aimed to estimate diabetes-related-distress and its association with medication adherence. Methodology: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted among 135 patients with T2DM recruited consecutively from a diabetes clinic of a tertiary health institution, Southwest, Nigeria, from March to September 2022. Data were obtained using the Diabetes Distress Scale (DSS-17) questionnaire and Morisky's Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). The association between the dependent variable (DRD) and the independent variable (medication adherence) was assessed with chi-square, and predictors of DSS with logistic regression analysis. The ethical approval was obtained from the committee of the hospital. Results: ). Patients who were highly distressed had 56% lower odds of adhering to their medications compared to those who were not (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15-0.62). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that diabetes distress is a common issue and significantly determines medication adherence. Thus, incorporating routine screening for distress into the standard diabetes care will be an important intervention to improve adherence and health outcomes of people living with T2DM.