**4. Need versus no need for assistance with adherence to medications**

Most of the diabetes mellitus patients are not aware that they are not taking medications correctly. This is because patients believe they are complying with how professional nurses have told them. On the other hand, other patients think they still need further assistance on how to adhere to medications. Misunderstanding of medication instructions could be reduced through improving clarification and understanding of labeling on prescribed medications by medication dispensers [20]. That is the reason patients believe the information given to them by health professionals as they trust that they are experts in their fields. It is, therefore, health professionals' duty to fully equip themselves with the knowledge needed for patients to understand the medications instructions. This knowledge should be made clearer to the level of patients understanding.

**Participant 'T'** *indicated that they need assistance and said, "I feel I need assistance on how I should eat and take medication correctly. I do not have such knowledge, I need it".*

On the contrary, **participant 'V'** said, *"According to me I do not need it because every time when I collect medications here at the clinic, they teach us how we should consume them".* **Yet participant 'U'** also said, "*No, I do not need it. I see myself taking the medications correctly, I am satisfied".*

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**Table 3.**

*The Importance of Health Literacy Related to Medications Instructions to Promote Adherence…*

Health literacy is essential for effective access to care, self-care of chronic conditions, and maintenance of health and wellness. It is also essential to healthcare, necessitating individuals to have a more active role in decision making and disease management [27]. Health literacy enables patients to accurately interpret the medication instructions to ensure proper and safe use. It is therefore linked to medication adherence and consequently contribute towards

Understanding medication instructions coupled with other treatment measures like lifestyle modification, play a major part in controlling diabetes mellitus. The instructions need to be clear such that patients will not take their medications incorrectly as a result of misunderstanding. It is important for medication dispensers to make sure that patients understand the correct meaning of these instructions before they leave the facilities. Health literacy should therefore be imparted to enhance medication instructions comprehension and medication compliance in diabetes mellitus patients [1]. **Table 3** give an outline of the prescribed medication instructions' explanation as a recommendation to assist people with cardiovascular

**It means**

30 minutes before food

Daily Take 1 tablet daily Since a day has 24 hours; therefore, divide 24 hours by 1 = 24.

the evening

00 h00 am.

Before food or meal Take your medication, then you can have your food immediately or

So, you are going to take your medication at the same time every day. E.g., if you choose 07 h00 am, that should be your everyday time.

It is the same as above, but you choose a night -time. E.g., 19 h00.

Same as the above but you choose a morning time. Any time before

For every 12 hours you should take your medication. E.g., if you choose 07 h00 in the morning, the next 12 hours will be at 19 h00 in

You divide 24 hours by 3 = 08 hours. For every 08 hours you need to take your medication. E.g., if you take the first dose/pill at

You divide 24 hours by four = 06 hours. For every 06 hours you need to take your medication. i.e., 06 h00, 12 h00 pm, 18 h00 &

After food or meals Eat your food first then after that you can take your medication.

12 h00 noon. E.g., 07 h00 am.

06 h00 am, 14 h00, & 22 h00.

You divide 24 hours by 2 = 12 hours.

**5. The importance of health literacy on disease management**

**6. Interpretation of the medication instructions**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95902*

persevering life.

diseases on treatment.

Before or after

In the morning

**Area If on your** 

At night Take 1 tablet at night

2x a day Take 1 tablet two

3x a day Take 1 tablet three

4x a day Take 1 tablet 4

**medication it is written**

Take 1 tablet mane or in the morning.

times a day (BD).

times a day (TDS).

*An outline of the prescribed medication instructions' explanation.*

times a day.

*The Importance of Health Literacy Related to Medications Instructions to Promote Adherence… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95902*
