Income in Saudi Riyals/month

Yes

N = 50

N (%)*

No

N = 109

N (%)*

p-value

Personal barriers

Unawareness of the injection method.

13 (26.0)

52 (47.7)

0.010

Unawareness of insulin dose control method.

22 (44.0)

50 (45.9)

0.826

Doubt about the efficacy of insulin.

5 (10.0)

19 (17.4)

0.224

Fear of (needles, pain at the injection site).

20 (40.0)

47 (43.1)

0.711

Preference for other treatment methods over insulin.

25 (50.0)

64 (58.7)

0.304

Past personal experience of insulin-related complications.

9 (18.0)

12 (11.0)

0.227

Treatment plan complexity.

11 (22.0)

23 (21.1)

0.898

Relying on others to take insulin.

5 (10.0)

22 (20.2)

0.112

Religious beliefs.

2 (4.0)

8 (7.3)

0.338˚

Lack of confidence in doctors’ opinions.

1 (2.0)

7 (6.4)

0.221˚

Forgetfulness.

15 (30.0)

40 17.4)

0.410

Family (social) barriers

Lack of family support for taking insulin injections.

5 (10.0)

19 (17.4)

0.224

Feeling Stigmatized.

6 (12.0)

6 (5.5)

0.150

Past family experience of insulin-related complications.

10 (20.0)

27 (24.8)

0.509

Side effects barriers

Fear of hypoglycaemia.

27 (54.0)

69 (63.3)

0.265

Fear of weight gain.

26 (52.0)

54 (49.5)

0.773

Fear of allergic reactions at the injection site.

21 (42.0)

45 (41.3)

0.932

Misconceptions about insulin injections

Insulin may lead to stillbirth.

6 (12.0)

18 (16.5)

0.460

Insulin is addictive; the injection will continue for life.

8 (16.0)

34 (31.2)

0.044

Insulin causes aging.

4 (8.0)

12 (11.0)

0.392

Insulin negatively affects sexual desire.

7 (14.0)

13 (11.9)

0.714

Work-related barriers

Long working hours.

12 (24.0)

12 (11.0)

0.034

Irregular eating times during working hours.

12 (24.0)

13 (11.9)

0.052

Lack of privacy during injection.

12 (24.0)

8 (7.3)

0.003