Structural factors and quality of diabetes health services in Hail, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

The chronic disease burden in Saudi Arabia has created adverse health, social and economic consequences that require urgent attention from health and political authorities. Diabetes has become an epidemic in Saudi Arabia. Data on personal and structural factors associated with diabetes in the Hail region are scarce. Such data are imperative to develop effective strategies to control the epidemic in the region. A cross-sectional study of diabetes patients attending diabetes health care facilities in Hail was conducted using a sample of 392 patients. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used. A slightly higher proportion of female participants (54.1%) were included in the sample. Most of the participants were from rural areas (73.9%), and 70.9% of the participants were from the middle-age (30–50 years) category. A close proximity to the diabetes clinic (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.08–3.44), good transport facilities (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.11–2.78) and feeling contented with supportive services (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.12–4.04) were associated with patients’ satisfaction with the overall quality of the diabetes clinic services. The presence of good-quality health care professionals working in these treatment centers also seemed to contribute to patients’ satisfaction with the services they received. These structural factors associated with patients’ satisfaction with the services they received from diabetes clinics must be considered in diabetes control programs in the region. The minimization of structural barriers will eventually assist the national strategic plan, Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life of the Saudi people by 2030.