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Association between Functional Status and Treatment Adherence among Elderly Suffering from Diabetes Mellitus

Shyama Devi, Azhar S.M., Deevanshi ., Rhythm kapoor, Khushbu Kumari, Akhila V.S., Pooja katiyar

Abstract


The burden of diabetes mellitus(DM) is rising disproportionately in the world. Elderly population is more
prone for chronic and recurrent illness like DM which may require long term treatment. Non-adherence
in this age group accounts for substantial worsening of functional status. Little knowledge is available
regarding association between functional status and treatment adherence among elderly. The aim is to
assess the functional status and its association with treatment adherence among elderly with diabetes. A
cross sectional study was conducted on 75 elderly (>60 years) attending outpatient department. Data
were collected with Morisky’s scale and Kartz index. The data were analysed by using descriptive and
inferential statistics. Out of 75 participants, 5 (6.7%) had low adherence to the anti-diabetic treatment,
39 (52%) had moderate adherence while 31 (41.3%) were highly adherent to treatment. Among the
functional, 9 (12%) were fully dependent and 35 (46.7%) were partially dependent on activities of daily
living. The variable associated with functional status is age and with treatment adherence is education.
There is significance difference between mean of treatment adherence among independent and dependent
group which shows dependant group is less adherent to treatment. The study revealed low or moderate
level of adherence among functionally dependant patients. Efforts are needed to increase the treatment
adherence among functionally dependant elderly with DM with the support of care givers. The findings
of the study will help the future researcher to explore the role of care givers in treatment adherence among
dependent elderly and a similar study could be replicated with a larger sample and in community settings.


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