Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

The key to effective patient care is the patient's proper cooperation, so it is important to examine the beliefs about medicine and self-management among diabetes patients. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to investigate the attitude toward metformin medication and self-management of...

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Main Authors: Klára Bíró, Mihály Varga, Viktor Dombrádi, Nóra Kovács, Attila Nagy, Gábor Bányai, Klára Boruzs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317034
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author Klára Bíró
Mihály Varga
Viktor Dombrádi
Nóra Kovács
Attila Nagy
Gábor Bányai
Klára Boruzs
author_facet Klára Bíró
Mihály Varga
Viktor Dombrádi
Nóra Kovács
Attila Nagy
Gábor Bányai
Klára Boruzs
author_sort Klára Bíró
collection DOAJ
description The key to effective patient care is the patient's proper cooperation, so it is important to examine the beliefs about medicine and self-management among diabetes patients. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to investigate the attitude toward metformin medication and self-management of adult patients with diabetes in Hungary. A total of 591 metformin-taking diabetes patients completed the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire, while 283 metformin-taking diabetes patients completed the Environmental Barrier Assessment Scale. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to investigate which socio-demographic factors influence the beliefs regarding medicines and various environmental barriers to diabetes self-management. Participants who reported a good or very good financial status were more likely to feel the need to take metformin compared to those perceiving bad or very bad financial status (coef = 0.25; p = 0.020). Respondents between 55-64 years and those older than 65 were significantly less concerned about metformin than those aged 18-24 years (coef = -0.47; p = 0.028 and coef = -0.41; p = 0.047). Participants with secondary education were significantly less likely to think that metformin was harmful than those with primary education (coef = -0.50; p = 0.009). In addition, those aged 35 or older saw more barriers to taking medication than those aged 18-24 years (35-44: coef = -0.54; p = 0.020; 45-54: coef = -1.15; p < 0.001; 55-64: coef = -1.06; p < 0.001; 65 years or older: coef = -1.48; p < 0.001). Also, significant negative association was found for several factors (such as age, education, self-reported financial status, subjective health status) with barriers regarding exercise. Overall, socio-demographic factors significantly impact both the attitude toward medicine and diabetes self-management. However, the impact considerably varies according to different beliefs and environmental barriers. To further improve drug adherence and self-management for diabetes, doctors should take into consideration the relevant socio-demographic factors when communicating with their patients.
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spelling doaj-art-7ab5ea6bb1844b239743faf57a5095f92025-08-20T03:06:43ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01203e031703410.1371/journal.pone.0317034Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.Klára BíróMihály VargaViktor DombrádiNóra KovácsAttila NagyGábor BányaiKlára BoruzsThe key to effective patient care is the patient's proper cooperation, so it is important to examine the beliefs about medicine and self-management among diabetes patients. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to investigate the attitude toward metformin medication and self-management of adult patients with diabetes in Hungary. A total of 591 metformin-taking diabetes patients completed the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire, while 283 metformin-taking diabetes patients completed the Environmental Barrier Assessment Scale. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to investigate which socio-demographic factors influence the beliefs regarding medicines and various environmental barriers to diabetes self-management. Participants who reported a good or very good financial status were more likely to feel the need to take metformin compared to those perceiving bad or very bad financial status (coef = 0.25; p = 0.020). Respondents between 55-64 years and those older than 65 were significantly less concerned about metformin than those aged 18-24 years (coef = -0.47; p = 0.028 and coef = -0.41; p = 0.047). Participants with secondary education were significantly less likely to think that metformin was harmful than those with primary education (coef = -0.50; p = 0.009). In addition, those aged 35 or older saw more barriers to taking medication than those aged 18-24 years (35-44: coef = -0.54; p = 0.020; 45-54: coef = -1.15; p < 0.001; 55-64: coef = -1.06; p < 0.001; 65 years or older: coef = -1.48; p < 0.001). Also, significant negative association was found for several factors (such as age, education, self-reported financial status, subjective health status) with barriers regarding exercise. Overall, socio-demographic factors significantly impact both the attitude toward medicine and diabetes self-management. However, the impact considerably varies according to different beliefs and environmental barriers. To further improve drug adherence and self-management for diabetes, doctors should take into consideration the relevant socio-demographic factors when communicating with their patients.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317034
spellingShingle Klára Bíró
Mihály Varga
Viktor Dombrádi
Nóra Kovács
Attila Nagy
Gábor Bányai
Klára Boruzs
Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
PLoS ONE
title Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
title_full Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
title_fullStr Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
title_full_unstemmed Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
title_short Investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self-management among Hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.
title_sort investigating attitudes towards medication and barriers to self management among hungarian adults with diabetes mellitus a cross sectional study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317034
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