Study on prevalence and factors influencing patient’s adherence to anti-diabetic medications in Urban Pondicherry

South-east Asia has one fifth of the world diabetic cases, with India alone contributing 61.3 million cases. Oral hypoglycemic agents substantially delay complications. Non adherence to medications decreases effectiveness of treatment leading to complications and increased cost of health care. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to measure the prevalence of patient’s adherence to anti-diabetic medications and to assess the factors associated with patient’s adherence. Cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 diabetic patients residing in the urban field practice area under Community Medicine Department of a medical college. Data were collected from May to August 2011 by house to house survey, using a pretested structured questionnaire. Patient’s adherence to diabetic medication was assessed using Morisky 4-Item Self-Report measure. Adherence to medication among the diabetics was 50.6 %. Adherence was 55.6 % among patients who were healthy subjectively (P = 0.000). Adherence was higher in non-alcoholics (53.8 %) and non smokers (52.1 %) as compared to alcoholics (23.7 %) and smokers (25.0 %). Adherence was higher among those who did not do physical exercises (56.7 %). Patients taking only one type of medication (67.7 %) were adhering better than those taking two or more type of medication (P = 0.000). Almost 50 % of diabetic patients were not adhering to the medications. Lifestyle factors were significantly associated with patient’s adherence. Hence, patients with poor lifestyle habits should be the primary target of effective intervention for enhancing patient’s adherence to anti-diabetic medications through Behaviour Change Communications.