Patient activation in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: associated factors and the role of insulin.

Aim: This study explored the relationship between insulin use and patient activation (a person's internal readiness and capabilities to undertake health-promoting actions) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and aimed to identify demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors involved in patient activation.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, baseline data from a Dutch nationwide study were analyzed. Patient activation was assessed with the Patient Activation Measure 13. A linear mixed model was used to take clustering into account.
Results: In total, 1,189 persons were included (310 of whom were on insulin), enrolled via 47 general practices and six hospitals. Their mean Patient Activation Measure 13 score was 59±12. We found no association between insulin therapy and patient activation. In the multivariable analysis, individuals with a better health status, very good or very poor social support (vs good social support), individuals who felt they had greater control over their illness and those with a better subjective understanding of their illness showed higher patient activation. Individuals with a lower educational level and those who expected their illness to continue showed a lower activation level.
Conclusion: Patient activation does not differ between individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy and those on other therapies.
Competing Interests: Disclosure AMB reports an unrestricted grant from Sanofi-Aventis, outside the submitted work. GEHMR received an unrestricted research grant from Sanofi Aventis and fees from Novo Nordisk for consultancy and lecturing, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interests in this work.