DIABETIC PATIENT COMPLIANCE IN AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC SETTING.
Contributors: Georgia State University.
Published: 1988
Number of pages: 144
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Purpose. The purpose of this study was to identify factors in an outpatient clinic population that related to patient compliance in managing blood sugar control.

Methods and procedures. The population for this study was 169 Type I and Type II diabetic patients. The patients' medical records were the main source of data for this research. The charts were audited for: (a) 1985 and 1986 weights, (b) 1985 and 1986 mean fasting blood glucose levels, (c) 1985 and 1986 mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA$\sb\□rm 1c)□$ values, (d) medical history, and (e) demographic factors. Each patient was given a 15-item multiple-choice quiz regarding diabetes knowledge. The measure of patient compliance was that the mean HbA$\sb\□rm 1c □$was equal to or less than 12%. An alternate measure used for comparison was that the mean fasting blood glucose level was 200 mg/dl or less. Fourteen variables--age, educational level, marital status, employment status, home glucose monitoring, acute or chronic complications, type, treatment, and duration of disease, support person, patient education, and quiz score--were tested to determine their relationship to compliance. Chi-square, $t$-test, and multiple regression statistics were used to determine these relationships.

Results. Of the 169 patients in this study, 123 patients met the compliance criteria. Two variables, a support person and treatment for Type II diseases, were found to have a significant relationship to patient compliance.

The $t$ test was used to compare 1985 and 1986 weights, HbA$\sb\□rm 1c □$values, and fasting blood glucose levels. The group mean weight did not change significantly from 1985 to 1986. Both the group mean HbA$\sb\□rm 1c □$and the fasting blood glucose level were significantly lower in 1986 than in 1985.

Conclusions. This study concluded that only 2 of 14 variables tested, a support person and treatment for a type II patient, were related to patient compliance. The remaining 12 variables were not predictive of patient compliance. Although this study used the HbA$\sb\□rm 1c □$test results as the primary measure of compliance, this research found the fasting blood glucose level can be used as an equally valid indicator of compliance.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-06, Section: B, page: 2132.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, 1988.

School code: 0079.