Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to taking medication in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) at each stage of change from the perspective of the Transtheoretical model.

Methods

This qualitative descriptive study used purposive sampling to select 32 newly diagnosed patients with T2DM, with 8 representing each of the 4 stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, and action). Participants were recruited at a community health service center in Sichuan Province, China. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and data were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

This study identified barriers and facilitators related to the patient, medication, health care service, and sociocultural dimensions. At the precontemplation and contemplation stages, various barriers across different domains predominated (e.g., incomplete comprehension of the disease; gaps in medication knowledge regarding importance, benefits, and indications; limited access to care; preferred traditional and alternative medication approaches). At the preparation and action stages, although patient, medication, health care service, and sociocultural facilitators were more reported (e.g., awareness of medication benefits, health system financial support, peer medication experiences), medication-related barriers persisted (e.g., medication knowledge gaps regarding side effects, adverse reactions, administration procedures, and missed dose management).

Conclusions

The primary barriers to taking medication in newly diagnosed patients with T2DM are medication-related factors, with barriers and facilitators dynamically evolving across the stages of change. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating stage-matched interventions to promote medication-taking behavior and patient well-being.