THE BELIEF IN CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE AND ADHERENCE TO TREATMENT IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS PATIENTS

We investigated the role of belief in conventional medicine, the type of medical care, and familiar and socioeconomic factors on the adheren ce to treatment in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) pat ients. In a cross-sectional Resign, we selected 156 patients from two institutions, who agreed to fill out a questionnaire, which included g eneral data, socioeconomic level, somatometric data, type of medical c are, complications, if they had friends and relatives with diabetes, t he family function, and a score on the belief in conventional medicine . Factors associated with adherence to diet and medication were analyz ed. Patients had a mean age of 55.6 years and 8.9 years since diagnosi s, A total of 51.3% of them were not covered by social security, and 6 2.8% received attention by a general physician. Patients under the car e of a specialist had better adherence to diet and medication, and bet ter belief in conventional medicine. The principal fatter associated w ith adherence to medication and diet was the belief in conventional me dicine (p < 0.001 in both). Adherence to diet was also associated with the socioeconomic level (p = 0.001) and years since diagnosis (p = 0. 004). Adherence to medication was also associated with schooling (p = 0.001). We concluded that belief in conventional medicine is strongly associated with adherence to treatment and other factors such as schoo ling, socioeconomic level, and medical care under a specialist; adhere nce to diet was better in patients with years since diagnosis. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Inc.