[Psychological factors associated to patient's treatment compliance in Chilean diabetic teenagers].
BACKGROUND
Treatment compliance among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, is low in 50% of diabetic teenagers, becoming a social and medical problem.


OBJECTIVE
To determine psycho-social factors associated to treatment compliance among Chilean diabetic type 1 teenagers.


METHODS
A non experimental study of 61 diabetic teenagers (age 14.9+/-1.9 years, 37 male). The number of blood glucose determinations, socioeconomic level and practice of sports was measured. Psychological tests were applied to analyze self-efficiency, motivation of achievement, self-esteem and knowledge of the illness and its treatment. As a measure of patient compliance, glycosilated hemoglobin (HB1Ac) was measured.


RESULTS
Six patients had a good control of diabetes (HB1Ac <7%), 24 had HB1Ac values between 7 and 8.9, and 31 (51%) had values of 9% or more, considered as a poor diabetes control. The intensified insulin treatment scheme, the knowledge of the illness and its treatment and the sense of self-efficiency, were the factors associated with a better compliance with treatment. Teenagers of higher socio-economical levels had a better compliance with treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Fifty percent of Chilean diabetic teenagers in this sample had a poor control of the disease and the variable knowledge about the disease is the better predictor of patient compliance.
Ortiz
Manuel
M
Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Mayor, Temuco, Chile. msortiz@umayor.cl
Ortiz
Eugenia
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002677:Chile; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors