OBJECTIVES Our aim in this study was to identify patient-level barriers to attending pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) clinic and to better understand the demographic and clinical characteristics of… Click to show full abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aim in this study was to identify patient-level barriers to attending pediatric type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) clinic and to better understand the demographic and clinical characteristics of these reporting barriers. METHODS Patients were recruited from pediatric T1DM clinics throughout British Columbia. Barriers to attending clinic were identified through a survey. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who reported difficulty attending clinic appointments were compared with those who did not. RESULTS Of the 197 study participants, 31% reported difficulty attending appointments. Commonly reported barriers were distance to clinic and missing work. Younger child age and residing in northern regions increased the odds of reporting a barrier, whereas residing on Vancouver Island decreased odds of reporting a barrier. There were no differences in glycated hemoglobin levels between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS Approximately 1 in 3 patients identified challenges in attending T1DM appointments in British Columbia. Further research is needed to determine whether similar challenges exist in other provinces.
               
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