Factors Associated With Satisfaction With Diabetes Care Among Patients Attending Public Diabetic Clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Diabetes is a major public health problem worldwide, currently affecting more than 537 million people. The disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Modern diabetes care has evolved toward more patient-centered approaches, emphasizing individualized treatment plans and targets. This study sought to assess the level of satisfaction with diabetes care and related factors among patients attending public diabetes clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used a simple random sampling method to recruit 423 diabetic patients from May to October 2023. Data collection was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered by an interviewer. The collected data were coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

Results: The mean (±SD) age of participants was 58.7 (±11.68) years. About half (51.1%) of participants reported being satisfied with the diabetes care provided, 26.2% were very satisfied, and 22.7% were dissatisfied. Participants who usually spend 1-3 h pursuing services at the facilities had 0.40 less odds of being dissatisfied with diabetes care offered at the clinics compared to those who spend more than 3 h on each attendance (adjusted odds ratio [adjusted OR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21-0.76, p = 0.005). For each one-unit increase in the communication subscale score, the likelihood of satisfaction (as opposed to being very satisfied) increased (adjusted OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.38, p = 0.001). Each one-unit increase in the accessibility subscale score increased the probability of satisfaction (adjusted OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.24, p = 0.023) and decreased the probability of dissatisfaction (adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.95, p = 0.004).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of effective communication and accessibility in improving patient satisfaction with diabetes care in public clinics. Health facilities and allied stakeholders should engage in continual capacity building among healthcare providers. Furthermore, other studies should be conducted at different levels of health facilities across the country to capture new insights on the satisfaction of homogenous sub-groups of patients.