Illness perceptions, beliefs in medicine and medication non-adherence among South Dakota minority women with diabetes: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND

The objectives of this study are to describe the illness perceptions and medication beliefs of minority women with diabetes and to examine if these beliefs have an impact on medication non-adherence.

METHODS

Minority women who had been diagnosed with diabetes within the past six months, taking prescribed medications and able to speak English were recruited in Sioux Falls. Patients were interviewed about their views on diabetes, beliefs in medicines and medication non-adherence. Descriptive statistics examined patient characteristics. Mann-Whitney U tests compared patients' beliefs to their medication non-adherence. Spearman's rho correlation examined associations between illness perceptions, medication non-adherence and beliefs in medicines.

RESULTS

The subjects were predominantly Native American (81.3 percent), had had diabetes for a long time (mean= 9.06 years), and had an average age of 46 years. More than half (56.3 percent) reported being non- adherent. No correlations were found between medication beliefs and non-adherence. Patients' beliefs that their actions can control the disease were associated with medication non-adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

There was not enough sample size and statistical power to be able to make a valid conclusion about the associations of beliefs and adherence. However, women are often the major caregivers in a family. Due to their socio-cultural positions, family roles may seem more important than medication adherence, and their illness and/or beliefs in medicines may not impact their behavior. Cultural beliefs may not be perceptible during clinical consultations; therefore, a continued effort to understand socio-cultural factors that may impact patients with diabetes, especially minority women, should be done.