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Table 5 Univariate analysis of possible factors affecting metformin adherence

From: Adherence to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes: a combined method approach

Variable

Adherent

Non-adherent

P value*

n = 74 (61.2%)

n = 47 (38.8%)

Duration of diabetes

   

 Mean years ± SD

14.7 ± 6.7

14.7 ± 6.0

0.989

Age

   

 Mean years ± SD

65.6 ± 8.6

66.5 ± 11.2

0.678

Sex

   

 Female [n (%)]

23 (60.5)

15 (39.5)

1.000

 Male [n (%)]

51 (61.4)

32 (38.6)

 

Presence of comorbidities

   

 Yes [n (%)]

72 (60.5)

47 (39.5)

0.521

 No [n (%)]

2 (100)

0 (0.0)

 

Metformin formulation

   

 Immediate release [n (%)]

43 (58.9)

30 (41.1)

0.663

 Sustained release [n (%)]

31 (64.6)

17 (35.4)

 

Frequency of metformin

   

 Once daily [n (%)]

17 (70.8)

7 (29.2)

0.394

 More than once daily [n (%)]

57 (58.8)

40 (41.2)

 

Number of metformin tablets daily

   

 1–2 tablets [n (%)]

24 (54.5)

20 (45.5)

0.350

 ≥ 3 tablets [n (%)]

50 (64.9)

27 (35.1)

 

Number of prescribed medicines

   

 Mean ± SD

10.8 ± 4.4

10.9 ± 4.3

0.847

Metformin self-administration

   

 Yes [n (%)]

72 (64.3)

40 (35.7)

0.027

 No [n (%)]

2 (22.2)

7 (77.8)

 

Living alone independently

   

 Yes [n (%)]

16 (57.1)

12 (42.9)

0.783

 No [n (%)]

58 (62.4)

35 (37.6)

 

Purchased adherence pill box

   

 Yes [n (%)]

44 (72.1)

17 (27.9)

0.021

 No [n (%)]

30 (50.0)

30 (50.0)

 

Pharmacy adherence packs

   

 Yes [n (%)]

9 (47.4)

10 (52.6)

0.277

 No [n (%)]

65 (63.7)

37 (36.3)

 

Reminder in mobile phone

   

 Yes [n (%)]

3 (100.0)

0 (0.0)

0.281

 No [n (%)]

71 (60.2)

47 (39.8)

 

Ability to read metformin label

   

 Yes [n (%)]

68 (61.3)

43 (38.7)

1.000

 No [n (%)]

6 (60.0)

4 (40.0)

 

Ability to get metformin out of packaging

   

 Yes [n (%)]

69 (61.6)

43 (38.4)

0.734

 No [n (%)]

5 (55.6)

4 (44.4)

 

Problems taking metformin

   

 Yes [n (%)]

4 (100.0)

0 (0.0)

0.156

 No [n (%)]

70 (59.8)

47 (40.2)

 

Presence of side effect

   

 Yes

11 (64.7)

6 (35.3)

0.956

 No

63 (60.6)

41 (39.4)

 

BMQ

   

 Necessity: mean score ± SD

17.8 ± 3.4

17.6 ± 3.5

0.786

 Concern: mean score ± SD

13.5 ± 3.6

13.3 ± 3.7

0.742

 Necessity-concern differential: mean score ± SD

4.3 ± 4.1

4.3 ± 4.1

0.949

CES-D

   

 Median score of CES-D [IQR]

11.0 [5.0–19.25]

11.0 [5.0–17.0]

0.785

  1. *Significant at value < 0.05
  2. BMQ: Belief about medicines Questionnaire; CES-D: Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale