DIABETES KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG GERIATRIC PATIENT WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Objective: Previous studies have showed that geriatric patients achieved low knowledge and medication adherence level, causing dissatisfaction in their glycemic control. In this study, we aimed to determine the knowledge level and medication adherence level among type 2 diabetes mellitus geriatric in-patients. Method: A total of 147 in-patients aged 60 years old and above who had been received treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited upon their consent form. Results: We found that majority of the geriatric participant possessed high levels of knowledge of their medication and disease (53.7%). Their medication adherence was high (66%). The knowledge score was found to be significantly decreased by the increasing age (r = -0.341, p < 0.001) and lower educational levels (F = 8.537, p < 0.001). Medication adherence score was increasing significantly with increasing age (r = 0.268, p = 0.001). The result for the effect of intervention in insulin pen injection techniques was encouraging because there was highly significant difference observed between before and after the counseling (p < 0.001).