The Relationship Between Underlying Factors and Treatment Adherence in Women With Gestational Diabetes

• Published in: Majallah-i dānishgāh-i 'ulūm-i pizishkī-i Arāk Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 828 - 839
• Main Authors: Moradi, Maryam, Salarfard, Mahla, Abedian, Zahra, Mazloum, Seyed Reza, Mousa Farkhani, Ehsan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2021
• ISSN: 1735-5338; 2008-644X
• DOI: 10.32598/jams.23.6.6192.1

Background and Aim: The adherence of diabetic patients to the recommended treatment regimens is among the major challenges in diabetes control. Dietary adherence is low in pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Non-compliance can reduce the beneficial effects of treatment, symptoms, and signs, increase complications, or even cause death. Therefore, further research on the determinants of follow-up behaviors is essential. Methods & Materials: This was a descriptive-analytical study. In total, 260 women with gestational diabetes treated with diet referring to healthcare centers, and Imam Reza (AS), Ghaem, and Umm Al-Banin Hospitals in Mashhad City, Iran participated in this research. The study subjects were selected using convenience, multistage, class, and cluster sampling methods. The required data were collected using a demographic and pregnancy profile questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire of adherence to the treatment regimen. The obtained data were analyzed by inferential statists and regression tests in SPSS v. 16. Ethical Considerations: This study was registered with ethics code of IR.MUMS.NURSE.REC.1397.091 in the ethics committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Results: The regression analysis results indicated that dietary adherence, blood glucose monitoring, and exercise adherence scores presented a significant and positive effect on the total treatment adherence score (P<0.001). Furthermore, education (P=0.044), unwanted (P=0.006), or unplanned pregnancy (P=0.21) provided a positive and significant effect on the overall score of treatment adherence. Women with a history of diabetes in first-degree relatives (P=0.010) and those with a history of miscarriage (P=0.021) obtained higher scores of total treatment adherence. Conclusion: According to the present study findings, some demographic and pregnancy characteristics can affect the rate of adherence to the treatment regimen in women with gestational diabetes. Healthcare providers need to pay attention to the impact of these factors in improving adherence to patients’ treatment regimens.