Opinions of patients with type 2 diabetes about responsibility, setting targets and willingness to take medication. A cross-sectional survey

Objective: To assess opinions and their determinants of patients with type 2 diabetes about responsibility for managing their diabetes, setting treatment targets and willingness taking medication. Methods: Questionnaire survey carried out in general practices and outpatient clinics across the Netherlands. Outcomes: opinions about responsibility, targets and medication. Multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: Data of 994 consecutive persons were analysed (mean age 65 years; 54% males). Of these 62% agreed to take responsibility for their diabetes. In the opinion of 89% the setting of targets should be by or in cooperation with their physician or nurse and 40% were willing to take tablets until all targets were attained. Patients who perceived dysfunction by barriers to activity did not agree to take responsibility (OR 3.68; 1.65-8.19). Patients with complications preferred to set targets in cooperation with their physician or nurse (OR 1.98; 1.03-3.80). Males were more willing to take tablets until all targets were attained (OR 1.62; 1.17-2.25). Conclusion: Not all patients want to take responsibility for their diabetes or taking all necessary tablets, especially those with barriers to activity or complications. Practice implications: Doctors and nurses should ask for patients' opinions about responsibility and treatment goals before starting education.