The relationship between compliance and quality of life among adolescents with diabetes mellitus type1

Abstract

Objectives: This research aimed at investigating the relationship between compliance and quality of life among adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1 (DMT1). The study explored the impact of an information giving intervention on compliance and quality of life in adolescents with DMT1 and factors related to compliance and its effect on the quality of life.
Methodology: This study was a randomised control trial, with an intervention and wait list control group. In this study, data was collected from participants aged 16 to 19 years.
Main outcomes: Compliance to treatment, impact about diabetes and worries about diabetes were highly significant at follow up in the intervention group and seemed to have had impacted positively in the lives of the adolescents and also influenced positive behaviour change to the treatment regime prescribed to them by the doctors. This indicated that there was a relationship between compliance and quality of life among adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1.
Measures: Instruments used by the researcher at both pre intervention and post intervention periods included: Social demographic questionnaire, the rating scale for compliance (RSC) and Diabetes Quality of Life Scale modified for youths (DQOL)
Procedure: Permission was obtained from the study site. Approval was obtained from Research Ethics committee, University of Zambia. The baseline measures for intervention and control group was done in week 1(time 1), where the 40 adolescents answered the demographic questionnaire, quality of life scale modified for youths and the rating scale for compliance. In week 2 to week 9, the researcher was with the intervention group and had 1 meeting with them once in a week. In week 10; time 2, follow up measure (same used at time 1 with intervention and control group) was done. The researcher met both groups at the Diabetes Association of Zambia Centre DAZ in University teaching hospital UTH. The participants were asked to complete the demographic questionnaire, rating scale for compliance and the diabetes quality of life scale modified for youths. These questionnaires were completed one after the other in both baseline intervention and follow up (post assessment). Instructions were read to them before they started answering each questionnaire in a plenary setup.
Results: The demographic results indicate an even distribution of participants by age in both the control and intervention groups. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the control and intervention group at follow up in compliance to treatment were P= .000, impact of diabetes P= 0.045 and worries about diabetes P=.001. However, satisfactions with life showed a significant difference between the control and intervention group at follow up were P= .000, the control group showed more satisfaction with life compared to the intervention group at follow up.
Conclusion: The information that the adolescents received during the intervention period seemed to have had impacted positively in the lives of the adolescents and also influenced positive behaviour change to the treatment regime prescribed to them by the doctors.

Key words: Adolescents, diabetes, compliance, quality of life