The effect of i̇llness perception on adherence to treatment in previously and new-onset diagnosed TYPE 2 diabetes patients

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictors of illness perceptions and adherence to treatment, and the effect of illness perceptions on the adherence to treatment in previously diagnosed and new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Methods: A total of 100 patients were included in this study, whose of the 50 were new-onset and 50 were previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Illness perceptions and adherence to treatment of patients were evaluated by using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) and Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Results: The illness identity subscale scores of the illness perceptions questionnaire, the opinions about the illness subscale scores, and the dimensional scores of the cause of disease were found as 5,32±2,43 and 4,56±1,54, 10,36±3,67, and 2,88±1,30, and 116,36±6,02 and 56,92±4,64 in previously diagnosed patients, and new-onset diagnosed patients, respectively (p=0,06, p=0,01, and p=0.07, respectively). This study revealed that illness perception according to the subscale of the illness perception questionnaire was different between previously and new-onset diagnosed patients. It was determined that illness perceptions of previously diagnosed patients were higher according to some subscales, and new-onset diagnosed patients were higher according to the other subscales. Opinions about the illness subscale, while the illness perception according to the timeline (acute/chronic, and cyclical), and treatment control scores were higher in previously diagnosed patients; personal control, emotional representations, illness consequences, and illness understanding scores were higher in new-onset type 2 DM patients. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale Scores were found as 2,84±1,54 and 1,82±1,45 in previously and new-onset diagnosed patients, respectively; also the treatment adherence was higher in previously diagnosed patients (p=0.01). While there was no relationship between illness perception and adherence to treatment in previously diagnosed patients, there was a relationship between illness identity and the causes of disease dimension with adherence to treatment in new-onset diagnosed patients. Conclusion: This study revealed that there was no relationship between illness perception and adherence to treatment in previously diagnosed type 2 DM patients. However, there was a relationship between illness identity and disease causes dimension with adherence to treatment in new-onset type 2 DM patients. Key Words: Illness perception, adherence to treatment, type 2 diabetes mellitus