Patient’s Experiences and Satisfaction in Diabetes Care and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure for Follow-Up Care Among Diabetes Patients in Urban Puducherry, South India

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus has huge economic burden for both patient and health-care system. Management of the condition in India faces multiple challenges such as paucity of trained medical and paramedical staff, poor quality, lack of satisfaction with services, and unaffordability of services. Objective: To determine the level of satisfaction and the out-of-pocket expenditure for type 2 diabetes patients receiving treatment from public and private sectors in urban Puducherry. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted in Urban Health Centre area of tertiary care center from August to September 2016. A total of 200 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus for 1 year or more and resided for at least a year in Puducherry were included in the study. Among the 200 participants, 100 were receiving care from government and 100 from private facility. Result and conclusion: Median cost of diabetes care in government facility was 2000 INR while in private facility was 13050 INR. About 70.1% of the patients were satisfied with the health-care services received. There was no significant difference in the level of satisfaction between government and private health facility. Almost three-fourths of the diabetes patients are satisfied with the care received irrespective of the type of health facility. The cost of diabetes care is more for patients seeking care from private sector than public sector. Availability of insulin and free syringes in the primary health center, provision of specialized footwear, and spectacles free of cost can help in reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure.