Compliance in black patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus receiving oral hypoglycaemic therapy.
Poor compliance with drug therapy is an important cause of therapeutic failure. Sixty-eight black patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus receiving oral hypoglycaemic agents were interviewed and various factors, such as age, sex, degree of control and type of therapy, were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Compliance was determined by qualitatively assessing urine for the presence of the drugs. An alarmingly high incidence of non-compliance of 65% was found, which could still be an under-estimation because of the long half-life of one of the drugs involved--chlorpropamide. Although interesting trends were noted, no statistically significant differences between compliant and non-compliant patients were found. In the light of the high incidence of non-compliance, a larger and more detailed study seems to be warranted to identify problem areas and to plan appropriate interventions.
Venter
H L
HL
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Medical University of Southern Africa, Pretoria.
Joubert
P H
PH
Foukaridis
G N
GN
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002747:Chlorpropamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin; D002747:Chlorpropamide