PERSPECTIVES OF DIABETES PATIENTS IN IMPROVING DIABETES CARE IN GHANA: A NATIONWIDE QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Background: Past and recent publications suggest that significant patient-related challenges in the management of diabetes patients remain, especially, in sub-Saharan Africa. Objectives: We set out to obtain patients’ perspectives on the challenges they face in the management of their condition as well as suggestions to improve these identified gaps. Design: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Public and private health facilities across all 16 administrative regions of Ghana Participants: Diabetes patients Methodology: Patients’ perspectives on various aspects of their management and possible solutions on perceived gaps were sought using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analysed using STATA version 16.1. P-value <.05 was set as significant. Results: Between 71.7%-85.6% (n=104-124) of the 145 respondents reported that the availability of specialist doctors, diabetes educators, ophthalmic nurses, ophthalmologists, dieticians, and glucose monitoring devices were below average; with podiatrists/foot care specialists only available in a few facilities. Respondents generally reported that availability of laboratory services needed for their care, human insulins, oral diabetes medications (except Sodium Glucose Transporter-2) was either good or excellent. Overwhelming majority of the patients used NHIS to finance their diabetes-related healthcare costs, whilst nearly 50% also pay-out-of-pocket to supplement healthcare and deemed this as expensive. Averagely, more than 95% (n=138) of the patients surveyed either agree, strongly agree or extremely agree to improving personnel, support services, laboratory investigations and access to affordable medications to enhance comprehensive diabetes care. Conclusion: Diabetes patients across the country continue experience significant challenges relating to their care. Cross-sector collaboration to improve identified challenges is urgently needed.