An Examination Of The Mediating Role Of Treatment Satisfaction In Linking Autonomy Support And Quality Of Life.

Abstract

Despite a growing awareness of quality of life (QOL) and its determinants in diabetic patients, little is known about the mediating role of treatment satisfaction in linking autonomy support and diabetic patients’ quality of life. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), social cognitive theory (SCT) and attachment theory (AT) this study examined whether diabetic patients' autonomy support from health care practitioners (physicians) is mediated by the treatment satisfaction of diabetic patients' and in turn influences their QOL. A total of two hundred and seventy four (274) Participants, Ninety four (94) males (34.3%) and one hundred and eighty (180) females (65.7%). with the (Mean age of 58.80 and  Standard Deviation of 11.44) were recruited for this study. The participants were patients diagnosed of diabetes mellitus and receiving treatment at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Parklane. Participants were drawn from Medical outpatient department (MOPD) of the hospital (ESUTH). They were selected through purposive sampling method. Their ages ranged from 18 and above.  The instruments employed in this study were: Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ), Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). The study is a cross-sectional design and multiple linear regressions and process macro was used to statistically analyze the study hypotheses. The results show that treatment satisfaction partially mediated and was positively/statistically significant, that there is positive relationship between autonomy support and treatment satisfaction and there is significant mediation effect of treatment satisfaction and autonomy support on the quality of life. This therefore implied that patients’ satisfaction with diabetes treatment will most likely determine the quality of life of such individual when linking it with the support they have received to be autonomous in managing their condition. The implication of this study is that Health care providers needs to be psych-educated on the mediating role of treatment satisfaction in linking autonomy support and quality of life to keep them in view in their management of patients with diabetes and to ensure their improved quality of life.