Table 2.
Responses of the patients on the ITSQ items.
| # | Item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Inconvenience of regimen (score = 68.8% ± 26.6%) | ||||||
| 1 | How much of a bother is it for you to take all your daily insulin doses as prescribed? | 25 (11.0) | 30 (13.2) | 29 (12.8) | 46 (20.3) | 97 (42.7) |
| 2 | How much does your current insulin treatment interfere with your ability to enjoy social or leisure activities? | 20 (8.8) | 27 (11.9) | 31 (13.7) | 26 (11.5) | 123 (54.2) |
| 3 | How much does your current insulin treatment interfere with your work or school activities? (If you do not work or attend school) | 26 (11.5) | 24 (10.6) | 31 (13.7) | 33 (14.5) | 113 (49.8) |
| 4 | In general, how stressful is it for you to manage your current insulin treatment? | 25 (11.0) | 23 (10.1) | 38 (16.7) | 61 (26.9) | 80 (35.2) |
| 5 | How burdensome is it for you to manage your current insulin treatment? | 20 (8.8) | 20 (8.8) | 46 (20.3) | 65 (28.6) | 76 (33.5) |
| Lifestyle flexibility (score = 68.3% ± 28.1%) | ||||||
| 6 | How much do you have to plan the timing of your meals or snacks around the insulin you currently use? | 29 (12.8) | 28 (12.3) | 37 (16.3) | 44 (19.4) | 89 (39.2) |
| 7 | How much do you have to plan what you eat with your current insulin treatment? | 33 (14.5) | 26 (11.5) | 45 (19.8) | 39 (17.2) | 84 (37.0) |
| 8 | How much do you have to plan your physical activities (such as exercise or strenuous household chores) around your current insulin treatment? | 12 (5.3) | 14 (6.2) | 34 (15.0) | 48 (21.1) | 119 (52.4) |
| Glycemic control (score = 58.0% ± 18.7%) | ||||||
| 9 | How confident are you that you can avoid symptoms of low blood sugar (such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, blurred vision) with your current insulin treatment? | 21 (9.3) | 29 (12.8) | 35 (15.4) | 53 (23.3) | 89 (39.2) |
| 10 | How confident are you that you can avoid severe episodes of low blood sugar that result in loss of consciousness (fainting or passing out) with the insulin you currently use? | 20 (8.8) | 15 (6.6) | 38 (16.7) | 45 (19.8) | 109 (48.0) |
| 11 | In general, how bothered are you by symptoms of low blood sugar (such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, blurred vision) with the insulin you currently use? | 80 (35.2) | 40 (17.6) | 38 (16.7) | 24 (10.6) | 45 (19.8) |
| 12 | How much do you feel that the insulin you are currently using increases the chances that you will experience low blood sugar? | 32 (14.1) | 29 (12.8) | 38 (16.7) | 41 (18.1) | 87 (38.3) |
| 13 | How worried are you about experiencing low blood sugar during the night with the insulin you currently use? | 53 (23.3) | 42 (18.5) | 31 (13.7) | 35 (15.4) | 66 (29.1) |
| 14 | How confident are you that you can avoid symptoms of high blood sugar (such as dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, increased appetite) with your current insulin treatment? | 23 (10.1) | 23 (10.1) | 51 (22.5) | 38 (16.7) | 92 (40.5) |
| 15 | How satisfied are you with the stability of your blood sugar levels with your current insulin treatment? | 49 (21.6) | 31 (13.7) | 46 (20.3) | 53 (23.3) | 48 (21.1) |
| 16 | Overall, how pleased are you with the blood sugar control you achieve with your current insulin treatment? | 54 (23.8) | 34 (15.0) | 46 (20.3) | 59 (26.0) | 34 (15.0) |
| Insulin delivery device satisfaction (score = 62.2% ± 21.0%) | ||||||
| 17 | How easy is it for you to take the correct amount of insulin each time with your current method of taking insulin? | 14 (6.2) | 15 (6.6) | 38 (16.7) | 29 (12.8) | 131 (57.7) |
| 18 | How convenient is your current method of taking insulin when you are away from home? | 77 (33.9) | 28 (12.3) | 38 (16.7) | 30 (13.2) | 54 (23.8) |
| 19 | How much pain or other physical discomfort do you experience with your current method of taking insulin? | 15 (6.6) | 18 (7.9) | 29 (12.8) | 31 (13.7) | 134 (59.0) |
| 20 | How comfortable are you taking insulin in a public place (where people might see you) with your current method of taking insulin? | 87 (38.3) | 48 (21.1) | 21 (9.3) | 19 (8.4) | 52 (22.9) |
| 21 | How much emotional distress or anxiety do you experience from your method of taking insulin? | 11 (4.8) | 23 (10.1) | 40 (17.6) | 39 (17.2) | 114 (50.2) |
| 22 | Overall, how satisfied are you with your current method of taking insulin? | 37 (16.3) | 36 (15.9) | 37 (16.3) | 40 (17.6) | 77 (33.9) |
| ITSQ (score = 72.3% ± 16.5%) | ||||||