Which patients with Type 2 diabetes will have greater compliance to participation in the Diabetes Conversation Map™ program? A retrospective cohort study

Aim To investigate the characteristics of participants in the Diabetes Conversation Map™ (Map™) program who had higher vs. lower compliance to the program, to determine if program tailoring and monitoring is needed among these groups. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 8990 patients enrolled in the Map™ program (low compliance [attending 0–1 sessions, n = 2759] and high compliance [attending ≥2 sessions, n = 6231]). Socio-demographic, clinical, health behaviors, and healthcare utilization characteristics were extracted. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression was used as the analysis strategy. Results Those who were of higher socio-economic status (OR = 1.567, 95%CI:1.317–1.865), who lived in urban area (OR = 1.501, 95%CI:1.254–1.798), with greater frequency of primary care visits (OR = 1.012, 95%CI:1.002–1.021), with medium (OR = 1.176, 95%CI:1.013–1.365) or high oral medication adherence (OR = 1.198, 95%CI:1.059–1.356), and with a greater frequency of blood glucose tests (OR = 1.102, 95%CI:1.033–1.175) had greater odds of being in the high compliance group. Conversely, those aged 35–44 (OR = 0.538, 95%CI:0.402–0.721) and 45–54 years (OR = 0.763, 95%CI:0.622–0.937), with longer Type 2 diabetes duration (OR = 0.980, 95%CI:0.967–0.993), with higher blood glucose levels (OR = 0.999, 95%CI:0.998–1.000), and current (OR = 0.659, 95%CI:0.569–0.762) or former smokers (OR = 0.831, 95%CI:0.737–0.938) had reduced odds for being in the higher compliance group. Conclusions Instructors in advance can target sub-groups to increase their attendance rates, and consequently improve their outcomes.