Interplay among patient empowerment and clinical and person-centered outcomes in type 2 diabetes. The BENCH-D study

• Measurement of empowerment and patient-centered outcomes can be standardized.
• Empowerment is efficiently measured by DES-SF questionnaire.
• Empowerment is associated with clinical and psychosocial outcomes and self-care.
• DES-SF mean scores varies between centers due to difference in clinical practice.
• DES-SF can be an indicator to monitor implementation of chronic care model.

ObjectiveWe evaluated empowerment in T2DM and identified its correlates.MethodsA sample of individuals self-administered the Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form (DES-SF) and other 9 validated instruments (person-centered outcomes). Correlates of DES-SF were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses. For person-centered outcomes, ORs express the likelihood of being in upper quartile of DES-SF (Q4) by 5 units of the scale.ResultsOverall, 2390 individuals were involved. Individuals in Q4 were younger, more often males, had higher levels of school education, lower HbA1c levels and prevalence of complications as compared to individuals in the other quartiles. The likelihood of being in Q4 was directly associated with higher selfreported self-monitoring of blood glucose (SDSCA6–SMBG) (OR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03–1.15), higher satisfaction with diabetes treatment (GSDT) (OR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.07–1.25), perceived quality of chronic illness care and patient support (PACIC-SF) (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.16–1.31), and better person-centered communication (HCC-SF) (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01–1.19) and inversely associated with diabetes-related distress (PAID-5) (OR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.98). Adjusted DES-SF mean scores ranged between centers from 69.8 to 93.6 (intra-class correlation = 0.10; p < 0.0001).ConclusionsEmpowerment was associated with better glycemic control, psychosocial functioning and perceived access to person-centered chronic illness care. Practice of diabetes center plays a specific role.Practice implicationsDES-SF represents a process and outcome indicator in the practice of diabetes centers.