| dc.description.abstract | Purpose To assess the relationship between healthcare seeking behaviors and glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted among patients with type 2 diabetes from a randomized controlled trial
conducted in a tertiary hospital, Bangladesh. Data on health center use, healthcare providers visited, self-monitoring of blood
glucose, blood pressure, foot care, and physical activity were collected through structured questionnaires. Uncontrolled diabetes
was defined as HbA1c ≥ 7%. Multivariable logistic regression models were performed.
Result Of the 265 patients (mean age 50.3 ± 9.9 years; 49.8% females), the majority (71.3%) had uncontrolled diabetes. More
than one-third (34.9%) of the participants did not visit their physician or a healthcare center during the previous 3-months. Only
12.4% of participants checked their blood glucose, and 35.8% checked their blood pressure during the last week. Participants
who did not visit a physician or a healthcare center during the past 3 months had twice the odds of having uncontrolled diabetes,
compared with those who visited during the same period [OR 2.12, 95% CI (1.02–5.14), p = 0.04].
Conclusion Regular consultation with a physician or visiting a healthcare center might help to improve glycemic control in
patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh. | en_US |
