The interpersonal experience of health care through the eyes of patients with diabetes

Patients with chronic illness often face challenges navigating the US health care system because of the system's lack of coordination and continuity. Patients with more difficulty relying on others and with reluctance in engaging frequently or in-depth with providers, face even greater challenges obtaining optimal health care in this system. Using a self-report measure of attachment style, we selected patients with varying degrees of comfort and trust in relationships. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 27 patients with type 2 diabetes attending the University of Washington Diabetes Care Center in Seattle to explore issues of trust and collaboration in the health care setting. We used a constant comparative approach in which contemporaneous data collection and analysis took place. A subset of patients with fearful and dismissing attachment style reported having low levels of trust and an inability to collaborate with others of longstanding duration. Many aspects of the current health care system, such as its rushed, impersonal nature and a perceived “wall” between providers and patients were frustrating for most study patients. Patients with fearful and dismissing attachment style reported that these aspects of the health care system often interfered with their ability to partner with providers but also reported that patient-centered attitudes and behaviors by providers could improve their trust and ability to engage in the health care system. Implications of using a conceptual model of attachment theory to improve patient-centered care and customer service are discussed.