Treatment satisfaction of diabetic patients: what are the contributing factors?
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.
Biderman
Aya
A
Department of Family Medicine, Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. sbider@netvision.net.il
Noff
Enav
E
Harris
Stewart B
SB
Friedman
Nurit
N
Levy
Amalia
A
D000368:Aged; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents