ABSTRACT
To determine the percentage of non-adherent patients with type 2 diabetes [T2D] attending primary health care [PHC] settings and to assess related factors Cross sectional case-control study Five primary health care centers [one from each health region in Kuwait] Six hundred and ninety-three T2D patients Comparison between cases and control was conducted using univariate analysis followed by a logistic regression analysis. The collected data included sociodemographic, Clinical, and patients' practice data. Adherence to T2D treatment recommendations Among 693 participants in this study, 181 were diagnosed as non-adherent to treatment recommendations with an overall 26.1% rate. They were compared with 512 adherent patients. Within socio-demographic variables, only education and family income were proved to be significantly associated with adherence to treatment. Among Clinical variables, poor glycemic state [OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2 - 4.7], hypertension [OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.2 - 3.2], co-morbid conditions [OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3 - 6.2] were significant determinants of the outcome of interest. Regular follow- up visits, compliance with diet recommendations and mild physical activity were significant protective determinants related to patients' practice [OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.1 - 0.9], [OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1- 0.6], [OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.2 - 0.8], and [OR 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2 - 0.9] respectively. Many amenable factors were associated with non-adherence. Health education to diabetic patients should be emphasied to improve patients' knowledge, attitude and practice to encourage their adherence. Further studies are needed regarding physicians' practice and their relation with patients