Type 2 diabetes: patient assessment of chronic illness care

We tried to assess perception of chronic illness care in people with type 2 diabetes and to determine whether demographic variables, self-care behavior, as well as affective variables were related with perception of chronic illness care.

We conducted a secondary analysis of the previously published cross-sectional study in 441 Iranian people with type 2 diabetes. Chronic illness care was assessed with the validated tool of patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC). Different aspects of care according to the chronic care model are measured on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being highest perception of care. The association between perception of chronic illness care and measured variables were tested using spearman correlation test as well as univariate and multiple linear regression analysis.

Finally, 380 filled out the PACIC questionnaire, completely (53.4% female, mean age: 54.73 ± 8.0 years, mean PACIC score: 2.52 ± 0.87). In spearman correlation test, considering PACIC score as the dependent variable, chronic illness care was inversely associated with level of education and distress, whereas, insulin treatment, wellbeing, family-social support and self-management were positively associated with chronic care (All p value<0.05). In the multiple linear regression analysis, family-social support was positively related to chronic care while level of education, marital status, diabetes-related distress, and high density lipoprotein had significant negative relationship with PACIC score (All p value<0.05).

Family-social support, level of education, marital status, and diabetes-related distress are the major determinants of patient experience of chronic illness care in people with type 2 diabetes.