OBJECTIVE: Patients’ self-management practices have substantial consequences on morbidity and mortality in diabetes. While the quality
of patient-physician relations has been associated with improved health outcomes and functional status, little is known about
the impact of different patient-physician interaction styles on patients’ diabetes self-management. This study assessed the
influence of patients’ evaluation of their physicians’ participatory decision-making style, rating of physician communication,
and reported understanding of diabetes self-care on their self-reported diabetes management.
DESIGN: We surveyed 2,000 patients receiving diabetes care across 25 Veterans’ Affairs facilities. We measured patients’ evaluation
of provider participatory decision making with a 4-item scale (Provider Participatory Decision-making Style [PDMstyle]; α=0.96),
rating of providers’ communication with a 5-item scale (Provider Communication [PCOM]; α=0.93), understanding of diabetes
self-care with an 8-item scale (α=0.90), and patients’ completion of diabetes self-care activities (self-management) in 5
domains (α=0.68). Using multivariable linear regression, we examined self-management with the independent associations of
PDMstyle, PCOM, and Understanding.
RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of the sample completed the surveys (N=1,314). Higher ratings in PDMstyle and PCOM were each associated with higher self-management assessments (P<.01 in all models). When modeled together, PCOM remained a significant independent predictor of self-management (standardized
β: 0.18; P<.001), but PDMstyle became nonsignificant. Adding Understanding to the model diminished the unique effect of PCOM in predicting
self-management (standardized β: 0.10; P=.004). Understanding was strongly and independently associated with self-management (standardized β: 0.25; P<.001).
CONCLUSION: For these patients, ratings of providers’ communication effectiveness were more important than a participatory decision-making
style in predicting diabetes self-management. Reported understanding of self-care behaviors was highly predictive of and attenuated
the effect of both PDMstyle and PCOM on self-management, raising the possibility that both provider styles enhance self-management
through increased patient understanding or self-confidence.
Key words physician-patient relations - disease management - self-care - ambulatory care - chronic disease
This work was supported by The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Quality and Performance, the VA Health Services Research
and Development Program (Grant DIS-99221-1), and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Kerr is a VA HSR&D Career Development
Awardee.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation or The Department of Veterans
Affairs.