Medical Care Satisfaction: A Determinant of Treatment Adherence in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Introduction Assessing treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is crucial in primary care. It enables the identification of adherence barriers, facilitates treatment optimization, prevents complications, reduces healthcare costs, and strengthens the physician-patient relationship. Objectives To identify factors associated with treatment adherence in T2DM patients at a Family Medicine Clinic in Veracruz, Mexico. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients attending a specialized primary care module. Independent variables included satisfaction with medical consultation, emotional stress (PSS-10), socioeconomic status (AMAI-NSE), and social support (DUKE-UNC). The dependent variable was treatment adherence, measured using the ARMS-e scale. A probabilistic sample size was calculated, and non-probabilistic sampling was applied. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Association strength was expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals. Results Of 208 participants, 37.01% showed optimal adherence. No significant associations were found with sex, age, socioeconomic status, treatment type, disease duration, residence, self-rated health, or satisfaction with consultation (p > 0.05). However, adherence scores significantly differed by perceived quality of care-"very good,” “good,” or “fair"-with mean scores of 14.33, 13.64, and 16.0, respectively (p < 0.05). No correlations above 0.3 were observed between stress, social support, and adherence. Parameters were also analyzed in patients aged >65 and <65, with no significant differences found. Conclusions Perceived quality of care appears to impact treatment adherence more than sociodemographic or psychosocial factors. High-quality, patient-centered care should be prioritized to improve adherence in T2DM. Key messages • Strengthening patient-centered care in primary settings can improve adherence and reduce diabetes complications. • Measuring the adherence to treatment periodically, it's an action that should be considered for preventing complications and reducing healthcare costs.