Patient-centered care in diabetes care-concepts, relationships and practice

Abstract

We still do not have comprehensive knowledge of which framework of patient-centered care (PCC) is appropriate for diabetes care, which elements of PCC are evidence-based, and the mechanism by which PCC elements are associated with outcomes through mediators. In this review, we elaborate on these issues. We found that for diabetes care, PCC elements such as autonomy support (patient individuality), cooperation and collaboration (system-level approach), com-munication and education (behavior change techniques), emotional support (biopsychosocial approach), and family/other involvement and support are critically important. All of these factors are directly associated with different patient outcomes and indirectly associated with outcomes through patient activation. We present the practical implications of these PCC elements.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Patient-centered care; Autonomy support; Patient activation; Patient adherence

Core Tip: We still do not have comprehensive knowledge of which framework of patient-centered care (PCC) is appropriate for diabetes care. In this review, we found that PCC elements such as autonomy support, cooperation and collaboration, communication and education, emotional support, and family/other involvement and support are critically important. All of these factors are indirectly associated with outcomes through patient activation.