The impact of accessibility and service quality on the frequency of patient visits to the primary diabetes care provider: results from a cross-sectional survey performed in six European countries

Abstract

Background: Visits to the primary diabetes care provider play a central role in diabetes care. Therefore, patients should attend their primary diabetes care providers whenever a visit is necessary. Parameters that might affect whether this condition is fulfilled include accessibility (in terms of travel distance and travel time to the practice), as well as aspects of service quality (for example in-practice waiting time and quality of the provider's communication with the patient). The relationships of these variables with the frequency of visits to the primary diabetes care provider are investigated. Methods: The investigation is performed with questionnaire data of 1086 type 2 diabetes patients from study regions in England (213), Finland (135), Germany (218), Greece (153), the Netherlands (296) and Spain (71). Data were collected between October 2011 and March 2012. Data were analysed using log-linear Poisson regression models with self-reported numbers of visits in a year to the primary diabetes care provider as the criterion variable. Predictor variables of the core model were: country; gender; age; education; stage of diabetes; heart problems; previous stroke; problems with lower extremities; problems with sight; kidney problems; travel distance and travel time; in-practice waiting time; and quality of communication. To test region-specific characteristics, the interaction between the latter four predictor variables and study region was also investigated.

Service quality: perspective of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in rural and urban public primary healthcare centers in Iran

“…Most studies examining the quality of T2DM and/or hypertension care have predominantly focused on technical aspects, with only a handful exploring service quality [ 15 , 16 ]. Notably, despite the higher prevalence of T2DM and hypertension in LMICs, the majority of studies examining service quality for these conditions originate from high-income countries, underscoring the imperative for additional research in LMICs [ 3 , 4 , 17 ]. This study aims to fill this gap by assessing service quality for T2DM and hypertension in primary healthcare settings from the perspective of service users in Iran.…”

Acceptance Rate of Influenza Vaccination Among Patients with Type II Diabetes

“…[ 33 ] Better accessibility to diabetic services were shown to improve adherence to preventive and therapeutic measurements in patients with type two diabetes. [ 34 ] Clearly, adhering to annual influenza vaccination among patients with diabetes was effective in reducing mortality in the long run. [ 35 ]…”

Scale-up of a chronic care model-based programme for type 2 diabetes in Belgium: a mixed-methods study

“…Previous studies have proven the positive impact of nurseled models on T2D care [38,39] and also the impact on the patients' HbA1c levels [40,41]. Self-developed protocols [38], patient empowerment and emotional support [42], quality of communication [43] and managing care through care plans [44] have been suggested as mechanisms for better care by nurses. In our research, additional mechanisms have been identi ed: nurses enhance IC due to their focus on chronic care, structured approach, teamwork and their linkages with other HCWs.…”