THE PATIENT-DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP AND METABOLIC CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE-1 (INSULIN-DEPENDENT) DIABETES-MELLITUS

Objective: Our hypothesis was that patient-doctor relationship experie nced positively by the patient is associated with adequate compliance behavior and thus to the long-term metabolic control of diabetes. Meth od. Cross-sectional study of 100 consecutive adult patients with Type 1 diabetes treated in a diabetes out-patient department. From a questi onnaire, four scores (direct estimate of physician, satisfaction with the place of treatment, self-esteem score, security with the patient-d octor relationship) determining the patient-doctor relationship were f ormed. In score 3 (self-esteem score) the impact of the patient-doctor relationship to the patients' self-esteem was indirectly estimated. T he anonymous data taken from diabetes register including information a bout treatment of diabetes, metabolic control and end-organ complicati ons were returned together with the questionnaire. On the basis of GHb A1c diabetic patients were divided into two groups: with adequate meta bolic control (GHbA1c less-than-or-equal-to 8.0%) or with poor/moderat e control (GHbA1c > 8.0%). Results: In univariate analyses the score 3 associated with metabolic control (p < 0.001). In logistic regression analyses the nephropathy (t = 2.80, p < 0.05) and score 3 (t = 3.98, p < 0.001) were associated with metabolic control. Conclusion: Patient 's positively-experienced patient-doctor relationship was associated w ith good metabolic control of diabetes.