(61-STU) Perceptions of Provider Attitudes During Diabetes-Related Visits Among Adults: A Retrospective Analysis Using the All of Us Research Program Data

Introduction/Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic condition in the U.S., requiring regular healthcare visits for effective management. However, structural and interpersonal barriers can impact patient engagement and care quality. Perceptions of provider disrespect may influence how patients with DM interact with the healthcare system. Although structural disparities have been widely studied in relation to health outcomes, limited research has examined how adults with DM perceive provider attitudes and how these perceptions relate to the frequency of diabetes-related healthcare visits.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the All of Us Research Program. Participants were included if they had a diabetes-related ICD-10 code and had completed the SDOH survey. The primary outcome was perceived provider disrespect, measured by responses to the item, “You are treated with less respect than other people,” from the Discrimination in Medical Settings Scale. Responses of “Always” and “Never” were compared across self-reported frequencies of healthcare visits to general doctors, specialists, mid-level providers, podiatrists, and eye doctors. Chi-square tests examined associations between perceived respect, provider type, visit frequency, and race.

Results/Discussion: Among 73,406 participants with DM, those who identified as non-White were significantly more likely to report being treated with less respect. Perceived disrespect was significantly associated with visit frequency for general doctors, specialists, and mid-level providers. Patients reporting “always” feeling disrespected were overrepresented at both the low and high ends of visit frequency. No significant association was found between perceptions of respect and visit frequency for podiatrists or eye doctors.

Conclusions: Perceived provider disrespect among patients with DM varies by race and visit frequency, particularly for generalist, specialist, and mid-level providers. Both low and high levels of utilization may be linked to negative patient experiences. Addressing communication quality and stigma-related sensitivity among providers may be essential for improving engagement in chronic disease management.