Health-related quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its treatment impact patients' physical health as well as emotional and social wellbeing. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and associated factors among patients with T2DM at a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia. METHODS: A face-to-face cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with T2DM at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We collected data using a validated Amharic version of the 5-level EuroQoL-5 dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to present patient characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed to explore differences in the median scores of EQ-5D-5L utility and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Multivariable Tobit regression models were used to identify predictors of HRQoL. Utility scores were calculated using disutility weights of the Ethiopian general population. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients with T2DM participated. Mean (SD) age was 64.43(10.61) years. Reported health problems were mostly in the pain/discomfort (67.3%) dimension followed by mobility (60.5%), whereas the usual activities domain (34.1%) was the least health problem being reported. The median (IQR) EQ-5D-5L utility and EQ-VAS scores were 0.95 (0.88-0.96) and 80 (75.0-85.0), respectively. In multivariable Tobit regression models older age, having poor glycemic control, longer duration of diabetes, insulin usage, obesity, and having diabetes-related complications were significant negative predictors of HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, patients with T2DM had lower HRQoL than the general population, which was attributed to being older age, longer duration of diabetes, insulin use, obesity, inadequate glycemic control, and diabetes-related complications. The utility index we generated can be used in future economic evaluations to inform decisions about alternative interventions and resource allocation.

Assessment of counseling practice in medicine retail outlets in Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Patient counseling can ideally be providing medication information orally or in written form to patients or their attendants, and it helps to form a concordant approach on encouraging patient involvement in the pharmaceutical care process and to explore patient's knowledge and understanding. Lack of adequate knowledge on drugs and up-to-date drug information are the major factor that hinders counseling services. This study assessed counseling practice of pharmacy professionals in Mekelle City. METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Professionals who volunteered to participate were involved. Self-administered questionnaires were used as data collecting tool to grasp professionals' practice on patient counseling, and the data were analyzed by using SPSS version 23. One-way analysis of variance and post hoc statistical tests were done to check for association between sociodemographic and other variables of counseling practice. In the statistical analyses, p-value of 0.05 and 95% confidence interval were considered. RESULTS: The most frequent drug information given by the pharmacy professionals to clients were unit dose (65%), frequency of administration (79%), and duration of therapy (62%). Study participants claimed that lack of knowledge (37%), lack of updated drug information (49%), high patient load (62%), and absence of a private counseling room (51%) were the main factors that prohibit pharmacy professionals from counseling their patients. Those pharmacy professionals whose monthly income was <2000 Ethiopian Birr claimed lack of knowledge (p=0.007), limited access for updated drug information (p=0.009), and lack of experience (p=0.039) as factors for poor counseling practice. Results of the post hoc analysis showed significant difference among the participants with <5 and >10 years of experience in providing information on storage conditions and written materials with p-value of 0.025 and 0.016, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study proves that the level of satisfactory counseling is still very low compared to the expected practice. Lack of knowledge, lack of updated drug information, high patient load, absence of private counseling room, and underestimating the importance of counseling were identified as some of the factors that impede counseling services.