Patient Perception of Chronic Disease Management and Preference for Resources at a Student-Run Free Clinic in Metro Detroit

Introduction Malta Medical Clinic is a student-run free clinic that provides health care to uninsured and underinsured patients in Metro Detroit. Many Malta patients have chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, arthritis, and chronic kidney disease. Most patients rely on the clinic for medical management, free prescriptions, and other resources to better control their chronic disease. The objective of this investigation was to identify patient understanding of chronic diseases to inform provider decisions on offering patient resources and education at Malta Medical Clinic. Methods Over two months, patients with a chronic disease who came to Malta Medical Clinic were administered a standardized eleven-question survey. The survey assessed patient perception of their chronic disease management and interest in various resources to assist in chronic disease management. Resources were compiled by the study team and distributed by medical student volunteers at the clinic as requested by patients. Results Surveys were completed by 10 patients. The average rating for patient perception of how well their chronic disease was managed was 7.8 out of 10. The most commonly distributed resource was a medication log, which was requested by 6 patients. Four patients requested educational materials regarding their chronic disease. Conclusions Patients may overestimate how well their chronic disease is controlled. Patients showed more interest in resources to log elements of their disease management compared to resources focused on education. Further investigation could compare patient versus provider perception of how well the patient’s chronic disease is controlled.