Frequency and association between family functionality and adherence to treatment in diabetic patients

Introduction: The family represents the closest environment to the patient and for this reason, family functionality is the most important support because with it the patient achieves optimal adherence to the treatment of chronic diseases, including diabetes. Objective: To determine the relationship between family functionality and adherence to diabetes treatment in patients treated in the chronic patients' program in a primary care health facility in Lima. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in 2020. Information was collected on adherence to treatment and family functionality of the patients. Likewise, sociodemographic variables and variables related to diabetes were measured. A simple and multiple regression analysis were performed to estimate the association between adherence to treatment and the sociodemographic variables. Results: 71.6% of respondents were women. 78.4% of the patients reported having some comorbidity. In addition, the average glycated hemoglobin of the respondents was 8.9%. It was found that 59.7% of patients belonged to a dysfunctional family and 87.3% did not optimally comply with the treatment for their disease. In the bivariate analysis, a significant association was found between family functionality and adherence to treatment (p= 0.028). In the multiple regression analysis, the association was maintained (PR= 2.73, 95% CI: 1.08-6.87). Conclusions: The frequency of poor adherence to treatment in diabetic patients is high. Family functionality is associated with adherence to drug treatment.