ABSTRACT
Objective To understand the status of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients′ trust in their family physicians, and to explore the role of the trust on patients′ medication adherence. Methods A total of 1078 patients with T2DM were recruited by cluster and systematic sampling method, from ten rural communities in Sanlong township in Yancheng city and five rural communities of Pingchao township in Nantong city, during February to April in 2018. The survey covered their trust behavior and attitude scale (PTBAS), and an 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale ( MMAS-8). Both measurement data and enumeration data were subject to descriptive analysis by mean ± SD and proportion respectively. Multiple linear regression was employed to explore the determinants of trust in physicians. Ordered logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between patient-physician trust and medication adherence. Results The mean scoring of patients′ trust and medication adherence was 20. 16 ± 2. 13, 7. 07 ± 1. 54 respectively. 55. 40 percent of the patients had high medication compliance, 28. 53 percent of them had medium compliance and 16. 07 percent had poor compliance. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the patient′s occupation, course of disease, self-reported health status and mental health status influenced their trust behavior (P < 0. 05). Ordered logistic regression analysis showed that each 1 point increase in patient′s trust in physicians, the medication compliance increased by 11. 0％ (OR = 1. 110, P < 0. 001). Medication adherence is also affected by age, employment status, course of illness, and mental health status. Conclusions Diabetes patients′ trust in their family physicians improves their medication adherence.