Non adherence factors to treatment of people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at home. Family caregiver’s view

Abstract

Objective. To understand the non adherence factors to treatment of people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) from the family caregiver’s view. Methodology. Ethnographic study performed in 2008. 18 interviews to type 2 DM patient’s caregivers who be­longed to diabetes control programs from healthcare institutions of the city of Medellin (Colombia) were conducted. Six observa­tions of significant moments of care were also made. Results. Treatment adherence in people with type 2 DM is mediated by multiple factors that difficult it, as: Cultural beliefs of the disea­se, disagreement between healthcare professionals and popular knowledge, tiredness of taking that many medicines, fear of multiple punctures for insulin application, dis­satisfaction with healthcare services and the long term cost of the disease. Conclusion. From the family caregiver’s view, treatment adherence of people with type 2 DM is low as a consequence of multiple factors which influence it.