Association Between Dissatisfaction With Care and Diabetes Self-Care Behaviors, Glycemic Management, and Quality of Life of Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the associations between patient dissatisfaction and diabetes outcomes among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Primary data from 615 adults with type 2 diabetes from 2 adult primary care clinics completed validated questionnaires. Patient dissatisfaction was measured by asking participants to what degree over the past 12 months were they very dissatisfied with the care they received from their primary care provider. Diabetes outcomes included self-care behaviors, quality of life, and A1C. A1C was abstracted from the medical record. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between patient dissatisfaction, self-care, blood glucose, and quality of life. Results: After adjusting for covariates, this study demonstrated that higher patient dissatisfaction was significantly associated with poor general diet, worse blood glucose levels, and lower mental component score for quality of life. Conclusions: In patients with type 2 diabetes, patient dissatisfaction had a significant association with higher blood glucose levels, poor general diet, and low quality of life. Demographic factors driving patient dissatisfaction included young age, low income, and low health literacy. Future studies should investigate how to address patient satisfaction in an effort to improve health outcomes.