Abstract

"Introduction: Lifestyle plays an important role in maintaining con-trol in non communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension diseases and many are not able to practice it due to the presence of multiple barriers.
Objectives: To assess the barriers to a healthy lifestyle in known diabetic and hypertensive patients in selected villages under Lakkur PHC area.
Methodology: The study was cross sectional and a structured interview schedule consisting of 50 questions in 5 domains (diet, physical activity, tobacco use, adherence to drugs and follow-up) was administered to 180 known diabetics and hypertensives residing in 6 villages of PHC area. The total score was classified into high, moderate and low barrier categories.
Results: The proportion of individuals with high barrier was found to be 30(16.7%). The domain of adherence to medication had the highest barrier score 119 (66.1%). The top most barriers identified were lack of variety in healthy food, lack of time to exercise and inadequate awareness about need for life-long medication.
Conclusion: Barriers to healthy lifestyle are common among dia-betic and hypertensive patients. Adherence to medication domain had the highest barrier score and lack of variety among healthy food was the topmost barrier identified.
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Key words: Adherence to treatment, barrier, healthy lifestyle, non-communicable disease