A study on compliance with diet, exercise, medication and regular follow up among diabetics attending tertiary care hospital

Compliance is a key concept in health care and affects all the areas of health care including diabetes. Non-compliance can occur due to the failure of patient. To have the medication dispensed or when it is not taken as instructed. Our objective is to determine the compliance of the patient with diet, medication and follow up among the diabetics. A Cross sectional study was conducted over a period of 3 months in medicine OPD of Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital Chitradurga. Convenient sampling method was used. Semi structured questionnaire was prepared and used for the study to collect information regarding age, gender, maintenance of diet, exercise, awareness about medication and follow up. Informed consent was obtained before collecting the data. Data entered in excel sheet and analyzed statistically using SPSS software. Out of 100 people surveyed and assessed based on SDSA (summary of self-care activities measure) 70 were males and 30 were females. It was found that people belonging to the age group 40-49 were more compliant with Diet (44.6%), Exercise (59.4%) and Medication (52.6%) and Follow up (45.1%). Males had a good compliance with exercise (81.2%), diet (67.9%), medication (73.7%) and follow up (74.4%). The situation is far from ideal, especially with such a massive thrust being laid upon self-care in diabetes, these days. Information, Communication education to bring about behavioral change is the only way forward. Keywords: Diabetes; diet; exercise; medication