Satisfaction among Adults with Diabetes Mellitus Attending Central Diabetes Clinics with the Care Provided in Primary Health Care, Kingdom of Bahrain

Background: Patient satisfaction is one of the desired outcomes of health care, as it is not only an indicator of quality of care but also plays a vital role in the management of chronic patients such as Diabetes mellitus because it promotes adherence to advice and treatment, utilization of health care services, and the establishment of the doctor-patient relationship. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to assess diabetic patients’ level of satisfaction attending the Central Diabetes Clinics in primary health care. Additionally, this study aims to determine whether patient satisfaction is related to individual characteristics such as sociodemographic parameters and disease-related factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Central Diabetes Clinics of Primary Health Care from February 6th to February 17th, 2022. The data was collected via a self-administered questionnaire. It was divided into two sections: the first part contained the patient's characteristics, and the second included 16 items obtained from the short form of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ-18). Results: The study included 369 diabetes patients in total. Most participants (85.9%) were Bahrainis between the ages of 51 and 70 (70.5%). The overall satisfaction mean score was 69.4 (86.75%, SD = 8.9). Patients were most satisfied with the interpersonal manners, while they were dissatisfied with the waiting time for emergency services. A significant association was found between overall satisfaction and education level, as well as with the duration of treatment. Lower educational levels and a duration of Diabetes of 5–10 years were associated with higher satisfaction. No significant association was found between overall satisfaction and other factors such as sex, age, nationality, marital status, employment status, monthly income, the presence of other chronic conditions, the presence of diabetes-related complications, or the treatment type. Conclusion: This study concluded that most diabetic patients who visit Central Diabetes Clinics are generally satisfied with the quality of healthcare services.