Clinic attendance and glycemic control. Study of contrasting groups of patients with IDDM.
OBJECTIVE
To assess factors associated with attendance at a specialized clinic for diabetes care.


METHODS
Adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in poor (HbA1 greater than or equal to 12%) versus good (HbA1 less than or equal to 10%) control and with no known complications comprised the study group.


RESULTS
Infrequent attenders were in worse glycemic control than regular attenders (chi 2 = 6.60, P less than or equal to 0.01) and held health beliefs that downplayed the importance of getting advice from physicians (P less than or equal to 0.002) or providing opinions to physicians about what might be done to improve their health (P less than or equal to 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Because infrequent attenders are more likely to be in poor glycemic control and thus at greater risk for diabetic complications, engaging them in regularly supervised treatment has important personal and public health implications. Additional studies are needed to understand why some diabetic patients limit their contact with medical providers and to develop more effective strategies for reversing this process. Initial findings from this study suggest that patient beliefs about the doctor-patient relationship may influence clinic attendance.
Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
A M
AM
Jacobson
A G
AG
Adler
L
L
Derby
B J
BJ
Anderson
J I
JI
Wolfsdorf
D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic