DECISIONAL CONFLICT AMONG PEOPLE WITH DIABETES MELLITUS OR HYPERTENSION ATTENDING PRIMARY CARE
Conflicto decisional en personas con diabetes mellitus e hipertensión arterial usuarias del nivel primario de atención de salud de Chile
Author
Bravo, Paulina; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Dois, Angelina
Hernández, María José
Villarroel, Luis
Abstract
Background: Decisional conflict refers to the personal uncertainty about which course of action to take when the choice involves risk, regret, or challenge to personal life values. Aim: To determine the level of decisional conflict (DC) of people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or High Blood Pressure (HBP) attending primary care centers (PCC) in Chile. Patients and methods: A Spanish version of the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) was applied to patients who were recruited if they had DM or HBP, were 18 years old or older, and had an appointment at the PCC the day of the recruitment. The scale was self-administered. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine association between DC and other variables of interest while controlling confounding variables. Results: The scale was answered by 1075 participants from 24 PCC aged 62 ±14 years (74% female). Average score for the DCS scale was 16.8 ±12.9 of a maximum of 100 points indicating a higher DC. The sub-scale “information” had the highest score (19.9±20.0). Low educational level and older age were significantly associated with higher DCS scores (p Background: Decisional conflict refers to the personal uncertainty about which course of action to take when the choice involves risk, regret, or challenge to personal life values. Aim: To determine the level of decisional conflict (DC) of people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or High Blood Pressure (HBP) attending primary care centers (PCC) in Chile. Patients and methods: A Spanish version of the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) was applied to patients who were recruited if they had DM or HBP, were 18 years old or older, and had an appointment at the PCC the day of the recruitment. The scale was self-administered. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine association between DC and other variables of interest while controlling confounding variables. Results: The scale was answered by 1075 participants from 24 PCC aged 62 ±14 years (74% female). Average score for the DCS scale was 16.8 ±12.9 of a maximum of 100 points indicating a higher DC. The sub-scale “information” had the highest score (19.9±20.0). Low educational level and older age were significantly associated with higher DCS scores (p