PERCEIVED PSYCHOSOCIAL DISTRESS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTED TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN OSUN STATE, NIGERIA

Background/Aims:Diabetes mellitus is one of the four types of Non Communicable diseases (NCDs) resulting in more than 30 million deaths annually. Its prevalence is alarmingly increasing worldwide with approximately 425 million adults living with and 352 million at risk of developing diabetes in the 21st century. There is a paucity of literature on the psychosocial implications of diabetes in people living with the disease. This study aimed to determine the perceived psychosocial distress of diabetes mellitus among people living with diabetes in two selected hospitals in Osun state.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was adopted for the study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 145 patients structured questionnaires were utilized to elicit information from the participants. The chi-squared test was used to test the association between psychosocial distress in diabetes and compliance with therapeutic regimen

Results:The mean age of participants was 61.8, majorly male, married 66.9%, 31.0% hadtertiary education, and 38.6% were employed by others. Furthermore, 66.9% were married, and 62.8 % have been managing diabetes for more than 10years. The perceived level of psychosocial distress was high, 75.5% had high interpersonal distress, 44.8% had a high emotional burden, 43.4% had high physician-related stress and 34.5% were high on the distress-related domain and these high psychosocial implications of diabetes had a significant negative effect on the patients compliance to therapy.

Conclusions: The study concluded that psychosocial distress is high and these had a significant negative effect on the patients compliance to therapy. The study recommended the inclusion of pre and post-test counseling services to support patients living with diabetes.