TY - JOUR
T1 - Continuity of care among diabetic patients in Accra, Ghana
AU - Awumee, Veronica
AU - Dery, Samuel Kennedy Kangtabe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Awumee and Dery.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a fast-rising non-contagious disease of global importance that remains a leading cause of indisposition and death. Evidence shows that effective management of diabetes has a close link with continuity of care which is known to be the integral pillar of quality care. This study, therefore, sought to determine the extent of continuity of care between diabetic patients and their care providers as well as factors associated with relational continuity of care. Methodology: This cross-sectional, facility-based study was conducted among diabetics in Accra, Ghana. We sampled 401 diabetic patients from three diabetic clinics in the region using a stratified and systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire containing information on socio-demographic characteristics, the four dimensions of continuity of care, and patients' satisfaction. A 5-point Likert scale was used to measure patient's perception of relational, flexible, and team continuity, while most frequent provider continuity was used to measure longitudinal continuity of care. Scores were added for each person and divided by the highest possible score for each domain to estimate the continuity of care index. Data were collected and exported to Stata 15 for analysis. Results: The results show that team continuity was the highest (0.9), followed by relational and flexibility continuity of care (0.8), and longitudinal continuity of care was the least (0.5). Majority of patients experienced high team (97.3%), relational (68.1%), and flexible (65.3%) continuity of care. Most patients (98.3%) were satisfied with the diabetes care they received from healthcare providers. Female subjects had higher odds of experiencing relational continuity of care as compared to male subjects. Furthermore, participants with higher educational levels were five times more likely to experience relational continuity of care than those with lower educational background. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the majority of diabetics had team continuity of care being the highest experienced among the four domains, followed by flexible and longitudinal being the least experienced. Notably, team and flexible continuity of care had a positive association with relational continuity of care. Higher educational level and being female were associated with relational continuity of care. There is therefore the need for policy action on the adoption of multidisciplinary team-based care.
AB - Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a fast-rising non-contagious disease of global importance that remains a leading cause of indisposition and death. Evidence shows that effective management of diabetes has a close link with continuity of care which is known to be the integral pillar of quality care. This study, therefore, sought to determine the extent of continuity of care between diabetic patients and their care providers as well as factors associated with relational continuity of care. Methodology: This cross-sectional, facility-based study was conducted among diabetics in Accra, Ghana. We sampled 401 diabetic patients from three diabetic clinics in the region using a stratified and systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire containing information on socio-demographic characteristics, the four dimensions of continuity of care, and patients' satisfaction. A 5-point Likert scale was used to measure patient's perception of relational, flexible, and team continuity, while most frequent provider continuity was used to measure longitudinal continuity of care. Scores were added for each person and divided by the highest possible score for each domain to estimate the continuity of care index. Data were collected and exported to Stata 15 for analysis. Results: The results show that team continuity was the highest (0.9), followed by relational and flexibility continuity of care (0.8), and longitudinal continuity of care was the least (0.5). Majority of patients experienced high team (97.3%), relational (68.1%), and flexible (65.3%) continuity of care. Most patients (98.3%) were satisfied with the diabetes care they received from healthcare providers. Female subjects had higher odds of experiencing relational continuity of care as compared to male subjects. Furthermore, participants with higher educational levels were five times more likely to experience relational continuity of care than those with lower educational background. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the majority of diabetics had team continuity of care being the highest experienced among the four domains, followed by flexible and longitudinal being the least experienced. Notably, team and flexible continuity of care had a positive association with relational continuity of care. Higher educational level and being female were associated with relational continuity of care. There is therefore the need for policy action on the adoption of multidisciplinary team-based care.
KW - Accra
KW - Ghana
KW - continuity of care
KW - diabetes mellitus
KW - longitudinal continuity
KW - relational continuity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159941431&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1141080
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1141080
M3 - Article
C2 - 37228731
AN - SCOPUS:85159941431
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 1141080
ER -