Abstract

BACKGROUND:
The beginning of insulin therapy is a mutual decision between the health care provider and the patient. People    with   type 2 diabetes   mellitus often   have   strongly   negative attitudes toward insulin therapy. This refusal is often   based on a range of patient concerns and misconceptions.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the barriers for insulin therapy refusal among type 2 diabetic patient, and to find the association between socio-demographic characteristic and the barriers of refusal.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross sectional study was conducted during the period from first of March to 30th of June 2019 in the Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital in Baghdad/Al-Rusafa. .The study was conducted by using a convenient sampling method of 400 patients’ withT2DM. A questionnaire form was used to collect demographic data, and appraisal of insulin therapy measured by Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale (ITAS).
RESULTS:
Perceived loss of control/ life style adaptation and restriction were the first barrier to initiation of insulin therapy (70.6%), and the least barrier to start insulin was perceived lack of positive gain               (43. 1%), also there is statistically less negative appraisal scores in patients aged 45-60 years, males, higher educational levels and ‘10-12 years’ duration of illness, but no statistical difference in regards whether a family member or a friend used, or did not use insulin.
CONCLUSION:
Many misconceptions about the use of insulin therapy can be corrected by working to increase patient education.