Some British South Asian patients may miss doses
Traditional foods may be seen as crucial to minimising harmful effects
of drugs |
Some British South Asian patients with type 2 diabetes make deliberate efforts to reduce their intake of oral hypoglycaemic medicines without being advised to, a qualitative study has found (BMJ
Online First).
The observational cross-sectional study used interviews in English and
Punjabi to examine the views of 32 patients of South Asian origin with
type 2 diabetes about oral hypoglycaemic agents. The researchers found
that respondents considered these agents to be an important part of their
diabetic regimen, but that some made deliberate efforts to reduce their
tablet intake, either because they believed that the drugs worked by
relieving symptoms or because they were concerned that the tablets could
be detrimental to health if taken for long periods, with other drugs
or without traditional food.
Alia Gilani, a bilingual prescribing support pharmacist for Greater Glasgow
Primary Care Division, who runs a medicines review clinic based in a
mosque, says that the study confirms the impact a patient’s cultural
views can have on the treatment of diabetes.
“In order for pharmacists to address concordance issues with British
Pakistani and Indian patients, there is a clear need to understand the
reasons
for non-adherence and tailor our interventions accordingly,” she
said. “Poor glycaemic control may be due to self regulation of
tablets; supplementary pharmacist prescribers need to be aware of this
before changing dosage regimens.”
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