Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes self-management education is a critical component in diabetes care. Despite worldwide efforts to develop efficacious DSME programs, high attrition rates are often reported in clinical practice. The objective of this study wa...

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Main Authors: Offenheim Ana, DeMelo Margaret, Gucciardi Enza, Stewart Donna E
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-02-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/8/33
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author Offenheim Ana
DeMelo Margaret
Gucciardi Enza
Stewart Donna E
author_facet Offenheim Ana
DeMelo Margaret
Gucciardi Enza
Stewart Donna E
author_sort Offenheim Ana
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes self-management education is a critical component in diabetes care. Despite worldwide efforts to develop efficacious DSME programs, high attrition rates are often reported in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted telephone interviews with individuals who had Type 2 diabetes (n = 267) and attended a diabetes education centre. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with attrition behavior. Forty-four percent of participants (n = 118) withdrew prematurely from the program and were asked an open-ended question regarding their discontinuation of services. We used content analysis to code and generate themes, which were then organized under the Behavioral Model of Health Service Utilization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Working full and part-time, being over 65 years of age, having a regular primary care physician or fewer diabetes symptoms were contributing factors to attrition behaviour in our multivariable logistic regression. The most common reasons given by participants for attrition from the program were conflict between their work schedules and the centre's hours of operation, patients' confidence in their own knowledge and ability when managing their diabetes, apathy towards diabetes education, distance to the centre, forgetfulness, regular physician consultation, low perceived seriousness of diabetes, and lack of familiarity with the centre and its services. There was considerable overlap between our quantitative and qualitative results.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Reducing attrition behaviour requires a range of strategies targeted towards delivering convenient and accessible services, familiarizing individuals with these services, increasing communication between centres and their patients, and creating better partnerships between centres and primary care physicians.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-fa99a032d7fa4193a38080bc9f7500cc2022-12-22T02:41:14ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632008-02-01813310.1186/1472-6963-8-33Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approachOffenheim AnaDeMelo MargaretGucciardi EnzaStewart Donna E<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetes self-management education is a critical component in diabetes care. Despite worldwide efforts to develop efficacious DSME programs, high attrition rates are often reported in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to examine factors that may contribute to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted telephone interviews with individuals who had Type 2 diabetes (n = 267) and attended a diabetes education centre. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with attrition behavior. Forty-four percent of participants (n = 118) withdrew prematurely from the program and were asked an open-ended question regarding their discontinuation of services. We used content analysis to code and generate themes, which were then organized under the Behavioral Model of Health Service Utilization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Working full and part-time, being over 65 years of age, having a regular primary care physician or fewer diabetes symptoms were contributing factors to attrition behaviour in our multivariable logistic regression. The most common reasons given by participants for attrition from the program were conflict between their work schedules and the centre's hours of operation, patients' confidence in their own knowledge and ability when managing their diabetes, apathy towards diabetes education, distance to the centre, forgetfulness, regular physician consultation, low perceived seriousness of diabetes, and lack of familiarity with the centre and its services. There was considerable overlap between our quantitative and qualitative results.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Reducing attrition behaviour requires a range of strategies targeted towards delivering convenient and accessible services, familiarizing individuals with these services, increasing communication between centres and their patients, and creating better partnerships between centres and primary care physicians.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/8/33
spellingShingle Offenheim Ana
DeMelo Margaret
Gucciardi Enza
Stewart Donna E
Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
BMC Health Services Research
title Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
title_full Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
title_fullStr Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
title_full_unstemmed Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
title_short Factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self-management programs: A mixed method approach
title_sort factors contributing to attrition behavior in diabetes self management programs a mixed method approach
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6963/8/33
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