Determining in-patient diabetes treatment satisfaction in the UK--the DIPSat study.
OBJECTIVE
To measure in-patient diabetes treatment satisfaction and its relationship to in-patient diabetes care.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, diabetes in-patient specialist nurses at 58 UK hospitals asked insulin-treated in-patients with diabetes to complete the recently updated Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for In-patients and a general questionnaire; 1319 in-patients completed these questionnaires.


RESULTS
Satisfaction with the general diabetes treatment items in the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for In-patients was high, but there were high levels of extreme dissatisfaction with meal choices, meal quality and lack of similarity of hospital meals to normal domestic choices--23% would never or rarely have made similar meal choices at home. Hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia was reported for much of the in-patient stay (20% and 7%, respectively) and 26% reported at least one severe hypoglycaemic episode; these groups had lower satisfaction with the timing of medication in relation to meals (P < 0.003). More frequent in-patient hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia were associated with significantly poorer overall satisfaction scores and negative well-being scores (both P < 0.0001). Previous experience of a multiple daily insulin injection regimen was associated with more dissatisfaction than other regimens (P < 0.01). Multiple regression models explained 36% of variability in overall treatment satisfaction, with most (22.4%) accounted for by satisfaction with time spent with a diabetes in-patient specialist nurse (P < 0.0001). Self-administration of insulin was independently associated with higher treatment satisfaction (P < 0.006) in this model.


CONCLUSIONS
The DIPSat programme describes the complex relationships between diabetes in-patient treatment satisfaction and in-patient diabetes care.
Health Psychology Research Unit, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK.
C L
CL
Rutter
C
C
Jones
K K
KK
Dhatariya
J
J
James
L
L
Irvine
E C F
EC
Wilson
H
H
Singh
E
E
Walden
R
R
Holland
I
I
Harvey
C
C
Bradley
M J
MJ
Sampson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012646:Self Administration; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents