Patient-Centered Care, Glycemic Control, Diabetes Self-Care, and Quality of Life in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: The Affordable Care Act places a newfound emphasis on patient-centered medical home and patient-centered care (PCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PCC, diabetes self-care, glycemic control, and quality of life (QOL) in a sample of adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Six hundred fifteen patients were recruited from two adult primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. Primary outcome variables were self-care behaviors (medication adherence, diet, exercise, blood sugar testing, and foot care), glycemic control, and QOL (physical component summary [PCS] score and mental component summary [MCS] score of SF12). PCC was assessed using a modified 7-item Picker Patient Experience Questionnaire. Regression modeling was used to assess independent associations while adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: In adjusted analyses, PCC was significantly associated with PCS QOL (β = -0.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.05 to -0.01), MCS QOL (β = 0.09, 95% CI 0.04-0.14), medication adherence (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.08-0.17), general diet (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.07-0.17), specific diet (β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.08), blood sugar testing (β = 0.09, 95% CI 0.04-0.15), and foot care (β = 0.12, 95% CI 0.07-0.18). Conclusion: PCC is associated with diabetes self-management and QOL, but was not significantly associated with glycemic control in patients with diabetes. PCC may be an important factor in self-care behaviors, but the process of focusing care around the patient may need to expand throughout the healthcare system before changes in outcomes such as glycemic control are noted.