DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_984_26 ISSN: 2249-4863

Treatment satisfaction among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending outpatient diabetes clinics in Jeddah’s second health cluster: A cross-sectional study

Anas M Sabri, Yaser Khojah, Ruba Ashram, Bushra Alqurashi, Rana Abbas
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BSTRACT

Background:

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a major public health challenge in Saudi Arabia, which has one of the world’s highest adult prevalence rates (18.3%). Patient satisfaction with treatment is a key determinant of adherence and glycaemic outcomes. Localised data from Jeddah’s Second Health Cluster are lacking.

Aims:

To assess treatment satisfaction among T2DM patients attending outpatient diabetes clinics in Jeddah’s Second Health Cluster, and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with satisfaction.

Methods:

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 382 adult patients with T2DM attending outpatient diabetes clinics in Jeddah’s Second Health Cluster. Treatment satisfaction was measured using the validated Arabic version of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire—status version (DTSQs). Non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H) were applied following confirmation of non-normal score distribution.

Results:

The mean total DTSQs score was 36.24 (standard deviation =4.49) out of a maximum of 48, indicating high overall satisfaction. Six of eight satisfaction items had means >5.0 with medians at the scale maximum. Perceived hyperglycaemia (mean =1.61) and hypoglycaemia (mean =0.72) scores were low. No significant sex difference was found (Mann–Whitney U = 16,826.0, P = 0.154). Treatment regimen was significantly associated with satisfaction (Kruskal–Wallis H = 26.806, P < 0.001): patients on oral hypoglycaemic agents only had the highest mean score (34.79), followed by combination therapy (33.33) and insulin monotherapy (29.14). Mean haemoglobin A1c was 9.20%, indicating suboptimal glycaemic control despite high reported satisfaction.

Conclusion:

T2DM patients attending specialist clinics in Jeddah’s Second Health Cluster report high treatment satisfaction, particularly regarding treatment convenience and willingness to continue therapy. A clinically important discordance exists between high subjective satisfaction and poor objective glycaemic control. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating patient-reported outcomes alongside clinical metrics in diabetes care planning.

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