Physician–Patient Relationship in Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

To The Editors:— The qualitative study by Beverly and colleagues highlights the fact that both physicians and patients often assumed responsibilities for poor clinical outcomes in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Patients felt defeated, depressed and expressed lack of self-efficacy, while physicians pointed to health system constraints and high expectations.1 Most primary care providers, according to a recent national survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, believe that unmet social needs—things like access to nutritious food, reliable transportation and adequate housing—are leading directly to worse health for all Americans.2 Additional studies are needed to explore the perceptions, attitudes and behaviors that support or impede the patient–physician relationship in diabetes or any chronic disease management, particularly the interaction of social determinants and self-management with quality measures and treatment goals.