Availability and affordability of diabetes healthcare services associated with the frequency of diabetes-related complications
Abstract Aims Understanding the healthcare access challenges facing diabetic patients in low- and middle-income countries is very important. The present study investigated the association between availability (physical access) and affordability (economic access) to diabetes healthcare services and t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12065-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Abstract Aims Understanding the healthcare access challenges facing diabetic patients in low- and middle-income countries is very important. The present study investigated the association between availability (physical access) and affordability (economic access) to diabetes healthcare services and the frequency of diabetes-related complications. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was conducted between February and May 2023 in Qazvin, Iran. Using convenience sampling, 373 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age = 57.99 years; SD = 11.71) referred to diabetic specialists’ clinics were surveyed. Demographic characteristics, physical access to diabetes healthcare services, economic access to diabetes healthcare services, and frequency of diabetes-related complications (FDRCs) were assessed. Data were assessed using linear regression analysis. Results The mean total access score to healthcare services was 17.71 (out of 30; SD ± 4.21; range 6–30). Patients who had more access to healthcare services had less diabetes-related complications (p < 0.005). There was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between FDRCs and (i) physical access to diabetes-related healthcare services (r = -0.166) and (ii) economic access to diabetes-related healthcare services (r = -0.153). Linear regression analysis showed that with each unit increase in participants’ economic, physical and total access to diabetes-related healthcare services, the FDRCs among participants decreased by 8.7%, 13.5%, and 8.8% respectively. Conclusion The results indicate that increased physical accessibility (availability) and economic accessibility (affordability) of healthcare services are associated with fewer diabetes-related complications. Therefore, policymakers and healthcare managers need to reduce diabetes-related complications by implementing schemes to increase patient access to diabetes treatment services. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1472-6963 |