Depression, Coping Strategies, Glycemic Control and Patient Compliance in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in an endocrine Outpatient Clinic

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is a multifactorial disorder posing a great challenge to public health. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between depression, coping strategies, glycemic control and patient compliance in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Total 110 outpatients (mean (SD) age: 57.9 years (10.5), 56.4% were females) with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. They were followed-up in the endocrinology outpatient clinic at Baskent University Istanbul Hospital Turkey. A questionnaire including items on sociodemographics, patient compliance, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) were used. Glycemic control was measured by HbA1c levels. RESULTS: Mean depression score was 12.6(9.2) with moderate to severe depression in 30.9% of study participants. Overall scores for BDI, fatalism and helplessness approaches were significantly higher among females compared with male patients. Depression scores were correlated positively to duration of disease (r=0.190, p=0.047), fatalistic (r=0.247, p=0.009), helplessness (r=0.543, p=0.000) and avoidance (r=0.261, p=0.006) approaches, and negatively to educational status (r=-0.311, p=0.001) and problem solving-optimistic approach (r=-0.381, p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Likelihood of depression was frequent, consistent with literature and was associated with gender, educational status, coping strategies, duration of diabetes and patient compliance with treatment in our study. Screening for depression and patient education may improve the quality of life in diabetic patients.