Empowering diabetes management: The impact of patient-provider collaboration on type 2 diabetes outcomes through autonomy support and shared decision-making

Through the lens of self-determination theory, this quantitative study investigates how patient-provider collaboration through perceived shared decision-making (SDM) and autonomy support impact type 2 diabetes (T2D) outcomes. We sampled 474 individuals over 18 years old who self-identified as having T2D. Completed and valid responses were received from 378 participants from two separate groups in an online survey. Data was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), AMOS package, version 28, and Mplus, version 8.8. Patient-provider collaboration through autonomy support improved treatment satisfaction (β = .16, ρ < .05) and self-management adherence (β = .43, ρ < .001). While collaboration through SDM improved treatment satisfaction (β = .25, ρ < .01), it worsened SM adherence (β = −.31, ρ < .001). The negative impact of SDM on self-management adherence was mitigated by our moderator, coping ability. However, coping ability minimally impacted treatment satisfaction and SM adherence when autonomous support was provided. Autonomy support increases treatment satisfaction and self-management adherence. SDM enhances treatment satisfaction but may adversely affect self-management adherence. The study also suggests that coping ability can mitigate the negative effect of SDM on self-management adherence, although its influence is limited when autonomy support is provided by the provider. For providers, SDM and autonomy support permits shared power over treatment decisions while fostering independence over self-management tasks. Providers should evaluate patients' coping ability and adapt their approach to care based on the patient's coping capacity.