Abstract:
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a serious and a rapidly growing public health problem that affects
millions of people in the world including Ethiopia. Body of evidence indicates medication adherence
and illness perception is an essential component of the care. Yet, there is a scarcity of evidence found on
illness perception and its association with medication adherence.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association of illness perceptions and medication
adherence among diabetic patients at North Shoa public hospitals, Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2022.
Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 24 to June 25 2022
among diabetic patients at North Shoa public hospitals. A systematic random sampling technique was
used to select study participants. Medication adherence and illness perception were measured using 4-
item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire respectively.
Data were entered into Epi data V 4.6 and exported to SPSS V 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression
was used to examine the relationship between illness perceptions and medication adherence. A variable
with p-value <0.2 in bivariable analysis was taken to multivariable analysis and statistical significance
was declared at p-value<0.05.
Result: A total of 539 diabetic patients were involved in the study with a response rate of 97.6%.
Overall, (64.4%) of diabetic patients were adherent to their antidiabetic medications. Patients had high
perception consequence (AOR=3.10, 95% CI: 2.11, 4.55), high perception of personal control
(AOR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.61), high perception of emotional representation (AOR=2.26, 95% CI:
1.54, 3.32), availability of medications (AOR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.32, 3.01), ages 18-40 (AOR=2.18, 95%
CI: 1.28, 3.72), ages41-60 years(AOR=3.32, 95% CI:2.00, 5.51), taking single (AOR= 2.35, 95% CI:
1.18, 4.69) and two medications(AOR= 2.07, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.80) were significantly associated with
medication adherence.
Conclusion: The overall antidiabetic medications adherence was suboptimal. There was a significant
relationship between illness perception and medication adherence in patients with diabetes. Health
professionals to be patient centered in their approach while providing care by considering patient’s
perception of the disease. It could be used to develop medication adherence promotion approaches, as in
the form of psycho-educational interventions
