Analysis of factors related to reuse behavior of insulin pen needles under Shanghai new medical insurance policy / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

One hundred and ninety-three type 2 diabetic patients of average age of 70.3 years (96 males and 97 females), receiving insulin treatment at Diabetes Clinic of Caoyang Subdistrict Community Health Service Center from April to October 2018 were enrolled in the study. During the first visit, the average times of insulin injection pen needle use in the past month and the reason for repeated use were investigated; and the patients were informed that under the medical insurance policy in Shanghai, the reimbursement rate of the needles was increased to 80%. The patients were regularly instructed on the use of insulin needles in the follow-up visits. After 5 months the times of each insulin needle use were surveyed again. The first survey showed that 97.5% (188/193) of patients reused insulin needles, and each needle was used for (11.8±9.8) times; while the second survey showed that each needle was used for (4.4±4.4) times. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the reuse behavior was affected by the frequency of education given by medical staff and the patient′s perception on expensiveness of the needles. It is suggested that clinical health education and fully informing medical insurance policy is important for the behavior change of reusing insulin injection pen needles in diabetic patients.