Patients’ Experience and Perceived Access to Diabetes Care in Primary Care Centers in Parañaque City, Philippines
Ryan Joseph De Francia TorresAbstract
Background:
Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health concern. At present, diabetes mellitus is within the top ten causes of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. The purpose of this study is to explore patient experience in accessing diabetes care at the primary care level in the city of Parañaque, Philippines.
Materials and Methods:
The study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods study design. Patient experience at the primary care level was assessed in two ways: quantitatively through the 31 item “Perceived Access to Health Care” Questionnaire and qualitatively using a semi-structured interview based on the socioecological model by Urie Bronfenbrenner through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study was conducted in three primary care centers in the city of Parañaque. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Philippine Social Science Council.
Results:
Quantitative findings revealed that for all six domains of access, the median scores of all respondents were 4.00 (interquartile range: 4.00–5.00). All six domains were rated to be “Good.” Qualitative findings revealed the central role of the community health partner, along with family and community organization, in mediating patient experience for patients with diabetes.
Conclusion:
Patient experience was generally favorable among respondents in selected urban primary care centers; however, qualitative findings suggest that meaningful experience is shaped not only by service availability but also by relational support, socioeconomic conditions, and policy level factors.