Diabetic patients? perceptions of illness and treatment: the case of somale regional state, Ethiopia

Jigjiga University, Sofi a S. Awol, Karamara Hospital, Ziyad A. Wabe, Save the Children/ UK Background: Nonadherence to medication and lifestyle regimes in diabetes is associated with increased hospitalizations and mortality, yet many patients fail to adhere to treatment recommendations. Recently, illness perceptions have been associated with adherence to diet and exercise recommendations, blood glucose monitoring, clinic attendance, and blood glucose levels. Specifi c treatment perceptions are more predictive of adherence to specifi c behaviors than combined treatment perception scales. Th e objective of this study is to investigate diabetic patients’ perceptions of illness and treatments, and explore relationships to adherence and blood glucose control Somale Regional state, Eastern Ethiopia.