Satisfaction and compliance to recommended management practices among type 2 diabetes patients in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2024-05

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has been increasing primarily due to the rising of risk factors such as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits, resulting to overweight and obesity. Diabetes- related complications are the major causes of morbidity and mortality among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Changes in lifestyles and dietary patterns are essential for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, including regular physical exercises, smoking cessation, weight management, and diet control, which help to mitigate the long- term effects of diabetes. Patient counseling has been identified as an important means to enhance patients' knowledge about risk factors, lifestyle modifications, and diabetes-related complications, which can influence adherence to recommended management practices. Little is known on counselling practices, satisfaction of diabetes related health care services received and adherence to recommended prevention and management practices among type 2 diabetes patients. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate counseling practices, challenges and satisfaction with the services provided among type 2 diabetes patients. It also assessed compliance to recommended management practices for prevention and management of the disease related complications in selected health facilities in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. A hospital- based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2023 among 140 patients, including those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 3 months and receiving healthcare services in selected diabetes clinics. Two health facilities with diabetes clinics which are Sabasaba Health Centre and Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital, were purposively selected to represent public health facilities with diabetes clinics. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire that included patients' characteristics. Additionally, a previously validated Summary of Diabetes Self-care Activities questionnaire was used to assess patients' compliance with recommended prevention and management practices, and a Diabetes Clinic Satisfaction Questionnaire was used to assess services satisfaction. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Service Solutions, version 25. Descriptive statistics and appropriate significance tests such as mean, frequencies, percent and standard deviations (SD) were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors influencing services satisfaction and those that are associated with compliance with recommended prevention and management practices. The study commenced after receiving ethical approval from National Health Research Committee of the National Institute for Medical Research. Permission to conduct this study was also sought from the President's Office Regional Authority and Local Government, as well as the respective regional, district, and health facility authorities. The mean age of the respondents was 59±12 years, with 65% (n=91) being females, and 62% (n=87) having completed primary-level education. Almost all respondents 96% (n=135) acknowledged receiving advice on medication and healthy diet. Advice on adopting a healthy lifestyle was not mandatory, with approximately one in four respondents never having received counseling on either alcohol intake or tobacco use. Nearly half of the respondents (49%, n=68) expressed satisfaction with the services offered. There was a significant association between patient satisfaction and the duration of living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (AOR 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.4), marital status (AOR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2-4.8), and waiting time to receive services in the healthy facility (AOR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9). Diabetes services were mostly limited to large patient-load and shortage of trained healthcare providers, private space and time, as well as lack of guidelines and protocol for counseling. Findings also revealed that among the 140 patients, 91.4% (n=128) exhibited poor or unsatisfactory self-care practices, with an overall mean of 3.81±2.08 days per week for diabetes management. Self-care practices with good or satisfactory performance included non-smoking, not drinking alcohol, and using prescribed medication, while unsatisfactory performance was observed on the practices of self-monitoring of blood glucose and physical activity. Multiple regression analysis indicated that having co-morbidities (AOR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.14-18.02) and being employed (AOR 4.4, 95% CI: 1.25-15.44) were independently predictive of adherence to self-care practices. Generally, this study shows moderate satisfaction with counseling practices and services, as well as poor compliance to recommended prevention for complications and management practices. Self-monitoring of blood glucose, physical exercise, and dietary practices were the least practiced aspects, which could potentially increase the risk of complications among patients with type 2 diabetes. The government through the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders should ensure the formulation of clear protocol and guidelines for counseling and diabetes prevention and management. It is further suggested that recommended practices should be integrated into existing healthcare systems to ensure that they become a routine part of care.

Description

MSc Dissertation

Keywords

management practices, diabetes patient, Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Citation