Coping strategies and adherence to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION Diverse psychosocial and cultural factors are related to adherence to treatment of type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM2) such as social support, coping styles and the cost of medical attention. OBJECTIVE To study the influence of diverse psychosocial factors on adherence to treatment in patients with DM2. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a cross sectional design we studied adherence to diet and medication, and its relationship with CS for diabetes, belief in conventional medicine, social support, and the perception of the burden of treatment cost on family finances. RESULTS We included 210 patients a mean age of 56.3 years, 9.4 years since diagnosis. Male DM patients had better adherence to medication (p<0.016) and social support (p<0.004), and higher rates for supportant CS (31.8 vs. 29.0; p<0.009). Adherence to diet was associated with belief in conventional medicine (p<0.035) and marginally related to fatalistic CS (p<0.05). After testing social security coverage as dummy variable, a marginal association was found (p<0.15). Adherence to medication was associated with supportant CS (p<0.02) and marginally with avoidant CS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Supportant CS was more frequent in men. Belief in conventional medicine, and supportant CS were associated with adherence to treatment. These factors should be considered for a more rational approach for the management of disease.