The Impact of the Disease Severity on the Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Satisfaction with Quality of Care

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that has a significant physical and emotional impact; it involves difficult lifestyle adjustments, and requires complex and long-term treatment.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the type 2 diabetes mellitus clinical condition (disease duration, disease severity, presence of comorbidity), patient socio-demographics (age, sex, education, residence), frequency of medical visits, and disease related self-efficacy on the patient’s satisfaction with quality of care.

Method. A total of 85 patients, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, attending a diabetes outpatient clinic in Romania were involved in this study. Participants completed Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, The Diabetes Empowerment Scale, and a demographic questionnaire.

Results. Multivariate regression revealed that patients with advanced stages of illness were significantly more satisfied with medical care in general and access to care. Patients who had more medical visits during the previous year were significantly more satisfied concerning doctor-patient communication. In addition, the findings indicated that patients, who had high levels of diabetes-related self-efficacy, were more satisfied with professional competence, interpersonal aspects, duration of consultation, and access.

Conclusions. Disease severity, frequency of medical visits, and disease related self-efficacy were highly related to type 2 diabetes patients satisfaction. Findings indicate that efforts to achieve a higher level of satisfaction should be directed mainly towards patients with primary stages of illness, but also towards patients with low levels of self-efficacy.