Patient Perspectives on the Quality of Diabetes Care in a Nigerian Tertiary Healthcare Facility
Abstract
In Nigeria, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the top endocrine-metabolic disorder, and it results in many cases of severe illness, high death
rate, and chronic after effects. Even with widely available clinical guidelines, there is still a difference between the recommendations
and how care is given in many healthcare places. The opinions of patients are important for identifying the strengths and weaknesses
of a health organization.
The purpose of this study was to check how patients experienced the quality of diabetes care at a tertiary hospital in Lagos State, using
their feedback. It checked whether doctors followed the given guidelines for care, understood patients’ control of diabetes, and were
happy with their care. The study was done at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) by collecting information about 370 adults over
15 years with type 2 diabetes who are under active care for at least a year. Information on the participants was obtained through asking
questions using planned forms, including socio-demographic traits, medical care, education on self-management, and satisfaction. The
quality of care was checked against the set ADA and IDF guidelines. Statistics, especially Chi-square tests and logistic regression, were
used to study the connection between quality indicators and health outcomes.
People answered the survey when they were 51.3 ± 8.5 years old, and typically had diabetes for 9.2 ± 7.4 years. Sixty-six percent of the
participants were females. The majority of patients (93.5%) got routine blood pressure monitoring, as opposed to just 41.1% being
tested for glycated hemoglobin. In total, 91.9% of the patients received weight monitoring, 91.6% received glucose monitoring, 91.6%
had urinalysis done, 84.3% underwent lipid profiling, and 82.2% of them had their eyes plus 88.4% of them had their feet examined.
Besides, most participants were educated about diabetes and physical activity, and a significant number were also provided with help
in managing their own diabetes. Even so, half of the patients did not think their diabetes was well-controlled, and almost half said they
had experienced complications. In general, 77.8% of patients thought their care was perfect, and 93.5% were pleased with the services
that were offered.
While the delivery of core diabetes care services appears satisfactory in many technical dimensions, a significant mismatch persists
between service provision and actual patient outcomes, especially regarding glycemic control and complications. This underscores the
need for improved implementation of glycemic monitoring protocols and enhanced patient education, particularly in self-management
and lifestyle modification, to elevate clinical outcomes and bridge the quality gap in diabetes care.
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