Issues Affecting Medication-Taking Behavior of People with Type 2 Diabetes in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE: It has been widely acknowledged that non-adherence to medication among people with type 2 diabetes is a significant problem worldwide. Studies have suggested that non-adherence to medication may be caused by the complexity of issues surrounding medication use which further created burdens related to medication. However, studies on this topic in the Indonesian context were still limited. This study aimed to understand the experiences of people with type 2 diabetes in medication-taking and explore any practical issues that potentially affect their behavior when taking medication. METHODS: Qualitative phenomenological study with semi-structured interviews was applied. The participants were purposefully recruited and selected from some primary healthcare facilities in Yogyakarta Province. The eligibility criteria included: diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by healthcare professionals for at least six months and were able to comprehend information. Information about the study was explained, and written informed consent was collected. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with a deductive qualitative content analysis method. RESULTS: Fifty-one people with type 2 diabetes were involved in this study. Most of the participants were between 40 and 59 years old, and many of them were female and housewives. The thematic analysis found some practical issues that affected people’s behavior in taking type 2 diabetes medication. These included individual’s mealtime, characteristics of the medications, accessibility of healthcare services, experiences of side effects and social activities. CONCLUSION: The practical issues identified in this study can be resolved by improving the role of healthcare providers in managing people with diabetes. Future research needs to be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions developed based on understanding of the practical factors identified.