Patterns of belief and use of traditional remedies by diabetic patients in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

A sample of 1039 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia was interviewed using a structured questionnaire about belief in traditional herbal remedies. The relationship of belief scores to sociodemographic and diabetes-related variables was assessed using chi-square tests. The study showed that 15.6% of the sample believed that traditional medicines were safe and effective and 25.8% that they might be beneficial. One-third of patients were using traditional remedies. A statistically significant relationship was shown between belief in traditional medicines and variables such as female sex, positive family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes and compliance with diet. However, there was no relationship with other compliance variables or with glucose and weight control. Efforts should be made to enhance diabetic education among patients on the basis of evidence-based practice

Drug compliance among hypertensive patients in Kassala, Eastern Sudan

A cross-sectional study of hypertensive patients was conducted and drug compliance was estimated. Factors associated with compliance, status of blood pressure control and occurrence of complications were assessed. Compliance was 59.6% as measured with the pill count method. We found 92% of compliant patients had controlled blood pressure in comparison with 18% of non-compliant patients, and 30.1% of the compliant patients had complications in comparison with 46.3% of the non-compliant patients. While the compliance rate was reasonable, 36.8% of patients were non-compliant because they could not afford to buy antihypertensive drugs. Inability to buy drugs was negatively and significantly associated with compliance. These patients experienced uncontrolled blood pressure and other complications

Compliance and knowledge of hypertensive patients attending PHC centres in AL-Khobar, Saudi Arabia

The compliance of hypertensive patients and patients' knowledge and misconceptions about hypertension were investigated in a cross-sectional study of all hypertensive patients [190] attending four primary health care centres in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The mean age was 49.9 +/- 11.7 years. The overall compliance rate was 34.2%; the rate was lower in those aged < 55 years than older patients [26.2% versus 48.5%; P < 0.001]. It was also lower among educated than illiterate patients [30.4% and 38.1% respectively; P < 0.001]. About 44% of patients thought that they should stop drug treatment once they achieved blood pressure control and 66.3% believed that emotional stress was the most important etiological factor in hypertension. The findings indicate that there is a clear need for health education of hypertensive patients