Factors influencing adherence among youth with Type-1-Diabetes Mellitus - the Hungarian case.

Background & Introduction: Due to the increasing prevalence of type-1-diabetes an increasing number of studies draws investigation draws attention to its psychological effects and long-term consequences. As Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic, non-curable, yet maintanable condition, with the affected children and their families facing a lifelong challenge. Our research focuses on the factors influencing adherence. Methods & Results: The adherence of youth was examined in a sample involving 114 patients treated in the Medical and Health Science Centre at the University of Debrecen by employing a new adherence questionnaire (DAQ abbreviated version, Munkacsi et al, 2019) (DAF 2017; N=114). The influence of socio-demographic variables and those related to the disease (age at the diagnosis, time elapsed since diagnosis, method of treatment, the time elapsed since the use of the pump) were measured by linear regression. Furthermore, the between-group comparisons were made by independent sample t-tests and variance analysis. The investigation was carried out between September 2017 and May 2018. The effect of using insulin pump as therapy is significant and positive (0.36. p=0.045). The adherence of the patients using insulin pump is higher while the effect of the age at the diagnosis has a significantly negative effect (-.247, p=0.035). Thus, earlier detection of the disease may lead to a higher level of adherence. The effects of the socio-demographic variables (gender, family structure, educational level, type of the settlement, owning sibling and birth order) were not significant (p>0.05). Regarding the between-group comparisons, a significant difference could be pointed out concerning the siblings and birth-order as the adherence of the those with siblings was higher (p=0.044). Moreover, concerning insulin pump therapy, the adherence of patients using pump was significantly better (p=0.048). Also, regarding the age of the diagnosis, the adherence of those diagnosed before 12 was seemingly higher (p=0.039). Concerning the other socio-demographical and disease-related variables, no significant differences could be detected. Conclusions: The results suggest that the treatment has an outstanding role in the adherence of the disease. Moreover, the role of the appropriate treatment, living conditions as well as the early diagnosis is relevant.