Determination of the role of patient satisfaction on glycaemic control among persons with diabetes attending the Family Medicine Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa is a chronic and debilitating disease with increasing morbidity and mortality and health care costs. Aim: This study focused on determination of the role of patient satisfaction on glycemic control among persons with diabetes attending the Family Medicine clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 156 adults with diabetes diagnosed in the hospital and had been attending the clinic for at least 6 months. Relevant data were collected using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire and clinical parameters measured include fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Data were analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software version 17. Result: In this study, 127 (81.4%) of the participants were satisfied with services provided while 134 (86%) had good glycemic control. There was significant difference between the satisfied and dissatisfied participants with regard to age group, ethnicity, glycemic control (based on FPG) as well as in the pattern of medication adherence (based on Morisky medication adherence scale MMAS). The age of participants is a predictor of satisfaction while the level of patient satisfaction and age of the patients are predictors of pattern of glycemic control and medication adherence of the participants. A positive association existed between patient satisfaction, medication adherence and glycemic control in persons with diabetes. Conclusion: Therefore, physicians and health care providers ought to seek ways of improving patient satisfaction with a view to enhancing good glycemic control.