Patient-reported outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus: patients’ and primary care physicians’ perspectives in the Spanish health care system

Abstract

ObjectiveUnderstanding patients’ and physicians’ perceptions of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management and treatment has important implications for diabetes care, allowing the identification of clinical practice issues that could be improved, leading to patients’ better understanding of the illness and, consequently, healthier self-management behaviors. The objective of this study was to identify differences between physicians’ and T2DM patients’ perceptions related to health status, patient-reported outcomes assessments, and T2DM management and treatment, in routine clinical practice in Spain.MethodsThis was an observational, cross-sectional study including 1,012 T2DM patients and 974 physicians from 47 and 52 Spanish provinces, respectively. An electronic structured self-administered questionnaire containing 17 questions was designed aiming to address both physicians’ and patient’s perceptions on overall T2DM health status and patient-reported outcomes.ResultsT2DM patients perceived a worse health status (40% reported having a “good” and 38% a “neither good nor bad” health status) compared with physicians’ perceptions (77% thought patients had a “good” health status). Most patients answered being “satisfied” or “neither satisfied nor unsatisfied” with the given information, while physicians considered that patients were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the information for self-monitoring blood glucose and treatment administration. Fifty-seven percent of patients reported that medical recommendations were “important”, while 58% of physicians considered it as “very important”. Fifty-three percent of patients perceived that their current T2DM treatment suited their preferences “quite a lot”, and this was lower than the proportion of physicians (69%) that believed this for their patients. Additionally, a lower percentage of patients (53%) than physicians (79%) believed that their treatment improved their health-related quality of life “quite a lot”. All differences between patients and physicians were statistically significant (P<0.001).ConclusionPatients and physicians demonstrate different views concerning all questions related to T2DM health status and diabetes management and treatment (information, recommendations, satisfaction, and preferences).

Examining the Impact of a Novel Blood Glucose Monitor With Color Range Indicator on Decision-Making in Patients With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and its Association With Patient Numeracy Level

“…For example, there exists a disparity in the perception of patients and HCPs on how well patients can interpret SMBG data. A recent study noted that 38% of physicians perceived that nurses “always” assessed patients’ ability and knowledge with respect to SMBG and when to take action, whereas only 14% of the patients felt they were “always” taught how to perform SMBG or given information regarding treatment based on SMBG results [16]. Therefore, HCPs may be overestimating how effectively their patients can interpret SMBG data.…”

Medication adherence and persistence in type 2 diabetes mellitus: perspectives of patients, physicians and pharmacists on the Spanish health care system

“…Nevertheless, it has been recently proved that patients and physicians under the Spanish National Health System (NHS) have different views concerning diabetes medical management. 26 In addition to this, there is enough evidence to suggest that patients and health care professionals may have different perceptions of adherence. 27 , 28 …”