THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIABETES-RELATED ATTITUDES AND PATIENTS SELF-REPORTED ADHERENCE

This study involved 1202 patients who were placed into low adherence o r high adherence groups based on their answers to questionnaires. The attitudes of each group were compared for a variety of adherence behav iors. Patients who reported high levels of adherence tended to have at titudes more in accord with diabetes experts. Members of the high adhe rence group strongly supported the need for special training for healt h care professionals who treat diabetes, favored team care, accepted t he importance of patient compliance, acknowledged the seriousness of n on-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and recognized the rel ationship between glucose control and complications. Differences in at titudes between high- and low adherence groups were more prevalent for difficult adherence areas, eg, diet and exercise, than for easy adher ence areas, eg, carrying sweets or diabetic identification. An underst anding of patients' attitudes can help diabetes educators and patients develop realistic and relevant self-care plans.