An examination of the relationship among patient factors, patient-physician interaction, and utilization of health services in adults with diabetes

In this study, patient-physician interaction, patient socio-demographic factors, health literacy, sources of care, and use of diabetes-related health services, were examined to assess the relationships to patients? satisfaction with the quality of health care they received in the past 2 years. By examining the relationship among patient, physician and environmental systems? factors, research findings will be used to develop interventions that will inform patient education and physician training and foster patient and physician behavior change that ultimately leads to improved health outcomes for adults with diabetes. To answer the research questions, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the predictability of the 5 groups of dependent variables: 1) socio-demographic factors, 2) sources of care ?factors?, 3) health literacy ?factors?, 4) patient-physician interaction ?factors?, and 5) use of diabetes-related services ?factors?. Individually these groups comprised thirty-two dependent variables. Three dependent variables, specifically confidence and trust in doctor; doctor spend as much time as wanted; and had a hemoglobin A1c in the last 6 months, were statistically significantly predictive of a relationship with patient satisfaction with quality of health care. This study provides insight regarding the specific aspects of patient-physician interaction and use of diabetes-related services that impact patient health outcomes. By knowing that a statistically significant relationship exists among confidence and trust in a doctor, being able to spend as much as time as wanted with a doctor, having a hemoglobin A1c in the last 6 months, and satisfaction with quality of health care, future investigators know which influences are perhaps most influential and deserve further exploration to predict satisfaction with quality of health care.