Association of treatment satisfaction and physician trust with glycemic control among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes in Egypt.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association of diabetes treatment satisfaction and trust in family physicians with glycemic control among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study on 319 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from five primary healthcare centers in Egypt. Data were collected from February to August 2021 using a structured questionnaire that contained six parts: sociodemographic data, disease profile, the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ), 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), self-reported medication knowledge questionnaire (MKQ), and revised healthcare relationship trust scale (HCR). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess predictors of treatment satisfaction, physician trust, and HbA1c level. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

RESULTS

The mean age was 59.66 years (± 7.87 years) and 55.17% were females. Multiple linear regression analysis for predicting HbA1c showed that HbA1c level was lower in patients with higher treatment satisfaction scores (β =  - 0.289, p < 0.001) and higher medication adherence scores (β =  - 0.198, p = 0.001). Treatment satisfaction scores were positively predicted by higher physician trust scores (β = 0.301, p < 0.001), increased medication adherence scores (β = 0.160, p = 0.002), and longer duration of diabetes (β = 0.226, p < 0.001). Positive predictors for physician trust included HbA1c level (β = 0.141, p = 0.012), medication knowledge (β = 0.280, p < 0.001), diabetes treatment satisfaction (β = 0.366, p < 0.001) and medication adherence (β = 0.146, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Optimizing diabetes treatment satisfaction and physician trust could have favorable associations with medication adherence and medication knowledge with a possible improvement in glycemic control. Family physicians should incorporate patients reported outcomes alongside traditional clinical measures in evaluating diabetes management in primary care.