Empowerment is an important factor to address everyday aspects of dealing with a chronic disease, including diabetes, according to a study that evaluated the effect of diabetes empowerment on medication adherence and self-care behaviors in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with greater diabetes empowerment are more adherent to their medication treatment plans, while those with lower diabetes empowerment are less adherent, according to a study published in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics.
In addition, those with greater diabetes empowerment have greater knowledge about diabetes, have healthier diets, are more physically active, and test their blood sugar more frequently compared to individuals with lower diabetes empowerment, according to one of the studyâs authors, Leonard E. Egede MD, MS, Allen H. Johnson Endowed Chair, professor of medicine and director, Center for Health Disparities Research, Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Egede
âThis study demonstrates how empowerment in diabetes management may serve as a key factor that enables patients to take greater control and responsibility for their self-management,â Egede told FormularyWatch. âIntegration of methods to increase empowerment into diabetes treatment plans may serve to effectively bridge the gap that exists between clinical recommendations and patientsâ perceptions and goals. By emphasizing patient empowerment in prescribing guidelines and clinical information, formulary managers may foster optimal outcomes and adherence to treatment plans by way of empowering patients.â
The study, âDiabetes Empowerment, Medication Adherence and Self-Care Behaviors in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes,â evaluated 378 patients with type 2 diabetes recruited from 2 primary care clinics in the southeastern United States between June 2010 and August 2010. Once subjects were recruited, the researchers used previously validated scales to measure diabetes empowerment, medication adherence, diabetes knowledge, and diabetes self-care behaviors (including diet, physical activity, blood sugar testing, and foot care).
This study used multiple linear regression to determine the relationship between diabetes empowerment and medication adherence and self-care behaviors.
âAfter initially testing correlations between the variables, we used multiple linear regression to determine independent associations between diabetes empowerment, and medication adherence and self-care behaviors, controlling for relevant covariates such as age, race, gender, education, and income,â Egede said.
âIn patients with diabetes, empowerment is an important factor toward achieving better outcomes through medication adherence,â he continued. âIn particular, integration of empowerment into diabetes management plans may help improve self-efficacy in the patient and increase the sense of partnership with providers in diabetes care, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes.â
Formulary managers have a unique ability to facilitate care and improve outcomes in patients with diabetes by increasing recognition of the influence of empowerment on important behaviors, such as medication adherence, according to Egede.
âThis can be done through information and guidance that could be included in patient and provider educational materials,â he said.
Diabetes outcomes are greatly influenced by a patientâs effectiveness in self-management and lifestyle behaviors, according to Egede. âThis includes the ability to adhere to medication treatment plans, and maintain diet and exercise regimes,â he said. âWhile many barriers to adherence exist, by increasing empowerment one promotes the ability for a patient to comply with medication treatment plans, self-care behaviors, and ultimately achieve optimal outcomes and lower disease-related medical costs.â
Navitus to Offer Unbranded Stelara Biosimilar, Remove Stelara from Formulary
March 13th 2025Lumicera Health Services, Navitus’ specialty pharmacy, has made a deal with Teva to offer an unbranded biosimilar that they estimate will save $112,000 and $336,000 per patient per year. Navitus will remove Stelara from formulary on July 1, 2025.
Read More
FDA Approves Neffy 1 mg Nasal Spray for Pediatric Patients
March 6th 2025Neffy 1 mg is now approved by the FDA to treat pediatric patients who weigh 33 to 65 lbs. Neffy was first FDA-approved as a 2 mg dose in August 2024 for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in children and adults weighing at least 66 lbs.
Read More