Patient Preference and Adherence (Oct 2022)
Nondisclosure of Medical Related Information by Persons with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus to Their Healthcare Providers: Do Different Patterns Exist?
Abstract
Abdullah A Alrasheed,1,2 Amaal N Wafa,3 Reham H Hamouda,4 Sawsan A Alharthi,5 Hour M AlMotairi,3 Khalid F Alsadhan,1,2 Haytham I AlSaif,1,2 Turky H Almigbal1,2 1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Family Medicine, Vision College of Medicine, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, AlMaarefah University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdullah A Alrasheed, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 55 644 0445, Email [email protected]: The doctor–patient relationship is often challenged by complex communication issues and nondisclosure of important related medical information, especially in diabetes management. Very little information is known about diabetic patient nondisclosure to their doctors. The present study evaluated the prevalence of nondisclosure of information by persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus to healthcare providers and its associated factors among the Saudi population, as well as the differences between persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: A cross-sectional study targeting persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus was conducted at King Saud University Medical City, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: A total of 285 participants were included in the study (155 [54.4%] and 130 [45.6%] type 1 and 2 diabetic patients, respectively). Having an unhealthy diet (25.3%, n = 72), not regularly exercising (23.5%, n = 67), hiding some glucose readings (23.2%, n = 65), and not following instructions for weight loss (22.8%, n = 44) were the most common types of nondisclosed information among diabetic patients. The nondisclosure of information was significantly higher among type 2 patients (29.2%) than type 1 diabetic patients (18.7%) in terms of not participating in regular exercise (p = 0.018). Similarly, the nondisclosure of information was significantly higher among persons with type 1 diabetes compared to persons with type 2 diabetes in terms of hiding some glucose readings (p < 0.001) and not disclosing hyperglycemia (p = 0.011).Conclusion: Nondisclosure of important related medical information among diabetic patients to their healthcare providers is prevalent among the Saudi population. Furthermore, the types and causes of nondisclosed information differ among persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Keywords: nondisclosure, diabetes mellitus, medical information, Saudi Arabia
