The belief in conventional medicine and adherence to treatment in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

We investigated the role of belief in conventional medicine, the type of medical care, and familiar and socioeconomic factors on the adherence to treatment in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. In a cross-sectional design, we selected 156 patients from two institutions, who agreed to fill out a questionnaire, which included general data, socioeconomic level, somatometric data, type of medical care, complications, if they had friends and relatives with diabetes, the family function, and a score on the belief in conventional medicine. Factors associated with adherence to diet and medication were analyzed. Patients had a mean age of 55.6 years and 8.9 years since diagnosis. A total of 51.3% of them were not covered by social security, and 62.8% received attention by a general physician. Patients under the care of a specialist had better adherence to diet and medication, and better belief in conventional medicine. The principal factor associated with adherence to medication and diet was the belief in conventional medicine (p < 0.001 in both). Adherence to diet was also associated with the socioeconomic level (p=0.001) and years since diagnosis (p=0.004). Adherence to medication was also associated with schooling (p=0.001). We concluded that belief in conventional medicine is strongly associated with adherence to treatment and other factors such as schooling, socioeconomic level, and medical care under a specialist; adherence to diet was better in patients with more years since diagnosis.