Treatment satisfaction of diabetic patients: What are the contributing factors?

Aya Biderman, Enav Noff, Stewart B. Harris, Nurit Friedman, Amalia Levy

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    107 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Background. Treatment satisfaction is an important factor of quality of care, especially in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Identifying factors that independently influence treatment satisfaction may help in improving clinical outcomes. Objective. To find the relationship between treatment satisfaction of diabetic patients and socio-demographic, clinical, adherence, treatment and health perception factors. Methods. Patients were interviewed by telephone about their socio-demographic parameters, health status, clinical data and treatment factors. The Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) was used to measure satisfaction and adherence. This is a cross-sectional study, as part of a larger study of chronic patients in Israel. Subjects were randomly selected diabetes patients. The main outcome measures were DTSQ levels. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to identify factors independently associated with patients' satisfaction. Results. In all, 630 patients were included in the study. Multivariate analysis indicated that demographic parameters (e.g. female gender, P = 0.036), treatment factors (e.g. type of medication, P < 0.001), adherence factors (e.g. difficulty attending follow-up or taking medications, P < 0.001) and clinical factors (e.g. diabetes complications, P < 0.01) were independently associated with lower treatment satisfaction. Conclusions. Treatment satisfaction is lower among diabetic patients who have a lower educational level, who are insulin treated or have a diabetic complication and is related to difficulties in taking medications and coming to follow-up visits. Addressing the specific needs of these patients might be effective in improving their satisfaction, thus having a positive influence on other clinical outcomes.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)102-108
    Number of pages7
    JournalFamily Practice
    Volume26
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 27 Mar 2009

    Keywords

    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Health status
    • Patient satisfaction
    • Primary health care
    • Quality of health care

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Family Practice

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