Effect of group visits on patient satisfaction with care among type 2 diabetics in a Nigerian hospital

Abstract

Background: To demonstrate the effectiveness of group visits in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the effect on patient satisfaction. Methods: Two hundred consenting type 2 diabetics receiving care at the general outpatient department of Bingham University Teaching Hospital were recruited and randomly allocated into intervention (group visits) and control (regular care) arms. Socio-demographic, clinical and patient satisfaction data were obtained with standardized questionnaires and the participants were followed up over three months. Results: A total of 142 patients (82 intervention and 60 control) completed the study. The subjects were comparable at baseline regarding age, sex, marital status, educational level, and mean fasting blood glucose. Overall, 88.3% of the usual care group vs 95.1% of the intervention group were satisfied with care (p= 0.13). Mean satisfaction scores were higher in the intervention group 71.0±8.6 vs 69.6±10.1 (p=0.36), and there was a significant difference in the ease of communication dimension (p= 0.02). The mean duration of consultation was 12.5± 2.3minutes per patient in the control group vs 7.5± 2.3 minutes in the intervention group (p<0.0001). Conclusion: This group visit model is a practical option for management of T2DM in primary care settings in Nigeria. It also increases patient satisfaction with communication and decreases consultation time.