Mental quality of life: an indicator of unmet needs in patients with diabetes.

This exploratory study investigates the quality of life needs of 173 individuals being treated for type 2 diabetes over a six month period of time. It samples patients whose primary care providers practice the most current model for delivering care, diabetes disease management. These physicians utilized a multidisciplinary diabetes education program to facilitate the patient-provider knowledge-based partnership essential in discase management. Patient quality of life changes were measured by the SF-36. A paired samples t-test showed significant diminishment in patients' mental quality of life indicating diminished overall emotional functioning, negatively impacting quality of life; possibly due to the effects of time. Multiple regression results also indicated that patients at risk for major depression and at risk for major depression superimposed on dysthymia experienced significantly diminished mental quality of life. These findings suggest that enhanced mental health assessment and mental health services provided by social workers in diabetes education programs and/or primary care settings would improve patient mental quality of life.