Reasons for diabetes patients attending Bishop Lavis Community Health Centrebeing non-adherent to diabetes care

Abstract

Background: Adherence to diabetes care is a concern at Bishop Lavis Community Health Centre (BLCHC) as it results in many diabetes complications that could have been avoided. The aim was to explore the reasons for people with diabetes in the Bishop Lavis area being non-adherent to diabetes care. Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken. Focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted with patients who had uncontrolled blood sugar and non-compliance. The framework method was used to analyze the data. Results: The main findings in this study was that the following had a negative impact on compliance to diabetes care: (1) poor knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus; (2) drug Treatment barriers such as shift work and not knowing the importance of taking medication regularly; (3) lifestyle adjustment barriers: dietary barriers and lack of exercise; (4) staff and clinic visit problems for example over-burdened public healthcare facilities; and (5) poor support structures including support from family, the community, financially as well as poor infrastructure. Conclusion: The main findings in this study was consistent with many of previous studies done on adherence, i.e. patient barriers, disease and drug regime barriers and doctor-patient relationship barriers. However, in this poverty-stricken area these participants also face other constraints that influence their compliance behaviour. These include (1) over-burdened public healthcare facilities; (2) insufficient education; (3) poor support structures; (4) infrastructure which is not wheelchair-friendly; (5) unsafe communities; (6) low income and unemployment. (Full text available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp) S Afr Fam Pract 2015; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2014.977027