Volume : VI, Issue : IX, September - 2017

Study to identify barriers for delay in seeking speciality care for diabetes.

Neema M L, Peter George, Sudeep K

Abstract :

 Introduction: There are many barriers for the access of speciality care in diabetes. We intend to study the barriers for delay in seeking speciality care for diabetes at a tertiary care centre in Southern India.

Aim: To study the barriers for delay in seeking specialty care for diabetes.

Materials and methods: this was a questionnaire based descriptive cross–sectional study done over two months at a tertiary hospital in Southern India. Data was obtained from 100 randomly selected patients who fulfilled the selection criteria. A validated structured questionnaire with 56 structured queries was administered by the investigators and the responses were marked on a blinded data sheet. Relationship between demographic variables and barriers under each section were compared.

Results:  We included 100 patients and 45% were in 41–50 years. Speciality care was taken by 64 subjects. Oral tablets alone were used by 55, insulin by 11 and both by 44. About 70% of patients with HbA1c >8.5 had diabetes for over 10 years. About 70% patients on insulin plus oral anti–diabetic medications had uncontrolled diabetes. Symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes was known to 74%. The awareness on complications was 80 % for eyes, 73% for cardiac and 70 % for renal; and 45% for stroke. On monitoring of diabetes 71% was not aware of HbA1c test.  Need for eye check–up was known to 87% and foot care to 55%. Hypertension screening and urine protein check was known to 71% and 44% respectively. On treatment related barriers, 70% believed diet control alone was sufficient, 74% feared lifelong drugs, 75% feared insulin, 76% felt medicines to be expensive, 76% had poor control with drugs, 74% had no insurance or medical care. Barriers for treatment failure were; alternate treatment (68%), lack of time (68%) and poor sugar control (77%). Employment related barriers were the working pattern (60%), lack of medical leave (45%) and busy schedule (44%). The specialty related barriers were long waiting periods (80%), high cost of investigations (76%), frequent follow ups (45%) and complicated treatment schemes (40%).

Conclusion: There are various barriers for delay in seeking specialty care for diabetes. Understanding the patient perception on diabetes and ability of health care delivery system to fulfil patient needs can ensure better care for diabetics.

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijsr  

Cite This Article:

NEEMA M L, Peter George, Sudeep K, Study to identify barriers for delay in seeking speciality care for diabetes., INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH : Volume-6 | Issue-9 | September-2017

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