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Journal of the National Medical Association logoLink to Journal of the National Medical Association
. 2003 Jan;95(1):64–70.

Relationship between quality of diabetes care and patient satisfaction.

K M Venkat Narayan 1, Edward W Gregg 1, Anne Fagot-Campagna 1, Tiffany L Gary 1, Jinan B Saaddine 1, Corette Parker 1, Giuseppina Imperatore 1, Rodolfo Valdez 1, Gloria Beckles 1, Michael M Engelgau 1
PMCID: PMC2594360  PMID: 12656451

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Patient satisfaction is regarded as a component of the quality of medical care. We examined the association between quality of care and patient satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population-based random sample in North Carolina, United States, 1997. PARTICIPANTS: 591 African-Americans aged > or = 18 years with self-reported diabetes were interviewed for providers' delivery of 10 preventive measures and patients' performance of four preventive measures for diabetes care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Satisfaction with health care providers with respect to 11 items, on a 4-point scale (excellent, good, fair, and poor). Average satisfaction scores were compared according to levels of quality of care. RESULTS: Patient satisfaction was positively associated with income, employment, diabetes education, ease of getting care during the last year, having health care coverage and having one physician for diabetes care (P < 0.05 for each). Adjusted for age, sex, education, employment, and income, 8 of 10 preventive care practices by providers during the previous year--monitoring of concentrations of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cholesterol; performing eye, foot, and gum examinations; and physician counseling on self-monitoring of blood glucose concentrations, exercise, and weight reduction--were associated with higher satisfaction scores (P < 0.05). Patients' performance of three of four preventive practices--taking medications for diabetes as prescribed, performing daily self-examination of the feet, and going for an eye examination with dilation of the pupils--were also associated with higher satisfaction scores (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Quality of diabetes care was positively associated with patient satisfaction with provider of care. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association and its direction.

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Selected References

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