Factors Affecting Adherence toward Therapeutic Regimen among Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: Although medication adherence is important for diabetic child to prevent disease-related complications and improve quality of life, the rate of children adherence to therapeutic regimen is somewhat disturbing. Hence, this study aimed to assess factors affecting adherence towards therapeutic regimens among children with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Method(s): A descriptive exploratory design was used. Subjects: A purposive sample comprised of 175 children and adolescents (mean age 13.01+/-2.4 years and about half of them were females) with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and their caregivers. Setting(s): The study was conducted at Diabetes Clinic, Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University. Tools: I- Interviewing questionnaire about factors affecting adherence toward therapeutic regimens II- Morisky Scale: it was used to assess children' adherence to medication. Result(s): About half of studied caregivers had unsatisfactory knowledge about type 1 diabetes mellitus and most of the studied children were adherent toward therapeutic regimen and had agreement with beliefs toward therapeutic regimen. In addition, more than half of studied children had positive attitude factors toward adherence to therapeutic regimen, had social support factors to therapeutic regimen but had no sufficient health care system factors. Conclusion(s): Caregivers' knowledge factors, attitude factors, social support factors, therapy factors, health care system factors and disease factors positively affected studied children' adherence towards therapeutic regimens. Meanwhile, beliefs factors and motivation factors did not have a significant effect on studied children adherence towards therapeutic regimen. Recommendation: Continuous health education to the children and their caregivers to improve their adherence. Keywords: Adherence -Therapeutic Regimen - T1DM.