Barriers to self-care and their association with poor adherence to self-care behaviours in people with type 2 diabetes in Ghana: a cross sectional study

Abstract Aim We evaluated the prevalence of barriers to self-care and associations between these barriers and adherence to self-care behaviours among people with type 2 diabetes. Methods Cross-sectional study among persons with type 2 diabetes recruited from the diabetes clinics of three hospitals. A survey assessed barriers to self-care conceptualised into the constructs of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (i.e. attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control). The Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities scale was used to assess adherence to self-care. Results The study included 252 (90% response rate) participants. Prevalent barriers included: lack of knowledge on how to use a glucometer (59.8%, n=150); difficulty in changing dietary habits (58.7%, n=148); and lack of money to purchase a glucometer (55.2%, n=139). Attitudinal barriers were commonly reported for diet, exercise and foot care; perceived behavioural control barriers were frequently reported for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG); and subjective norm barriers for medication taking. The only significant association was between adherence to foot care and subjective norms barriers. Conclusions The commonly-reported types of barriers varied according to the type of self-care behaviour but specific type of barrier was associated with poor adherence to diabetes self-care behaviours.