Diabetes control related to resident country, disease specifics, and health care features
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Diabetes control is related to resident country, disease characteristics, and health care features.
According to recent research from the United States, “The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of patients’ self-reported well-being, self-management, and diabetes control with factors related to the patient’s health care. This was a cross-sectional survey of national samples of patients with diabetes (n=5,104) from the multinational study of Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN). Patients from 13 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America reported their level of well-being, self-management, and diabetes control.”
“Hierarchical multiple regression analysis (blocks are countries, respondent characteristics, and health care features) was used to examine predictors of diabetes-related distress and general well-being, adherence to lifestyle and medical treatment recommendations, and perceived diabetes control and hyperglycemic symptoms,” continued R.R. Rubin and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University.
They determined, “Country, respondent demographic and disease characteristics, and health care features were all associated with patient-reported outcomes. Better patient-provider collaboration was associated with more favorable ratings on all outcomes, and better access to the provider and availability of team care were associated with some positive outcomes. Country differences were only partly accounted for by patient and health care factors. Relationships between health care factors and outcomes varied across countries.”
The authors concluded, “Patients’ reports of well-being, self-management, and diabetes control were related to the countries in which they live, their demographic and disease characteristics, and features of their health care. Opportunities to enhance patient-provider collaboration, access to care, and availability of team care should be pursued.”
Rubin and colleagues published their study in Diabetes Care (Health care and patient-reported outcomes - Results of the cross-national Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN) study. Diabetes Care, 2006;29(6):1249-1255).
For additional information, contact R.R. Rubin, 946 E Piney Hill Rd., Monkton, MD 21111, USA.
Publisher contact information for the journal Diabetes Care is: American Diabetes Association, 1701 N Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1717, USA.
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