Adherence to Treatment in Type 2 Diabetes and its association with Quality of Life and Depression

Abstract

This study aims to describe the relationships between adherence to treatment and two variables: quality of life and depressive symptomatology, in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, treated at family health centers in the province of Conception, Chile. The sample was of 101 participants aged 45-65 years old, who were diagnosed with diabetes one year ago or more. The instruments used were: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Scale of Adherence to Treatment in Diabetes Mellitus II, version III (EATDM-III), and a instrument of quality of life of the World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF). The results showed high adherence to treatment, low depressive symptomatology and high quality of life in these patients. Furthermore, using Pearson correlation coefficient, adherence to treatment showed an inverse relationship with depressive symptomatology; and a positive relationship with quality of life. These results support the inclusion of psychologists in the comprehensive treatment of diabetes.