Implementation of a Diabetes Management Program for Patients in a Rural Primary Care Office

Objective : A diabetes management program was implemented in a rural primary care office for those who did not choose to consult a multidisciplinary specialty care. The purposes of this study were to describe the current practices and health care provider management of patients with diabetes in a ru...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeanette M. Daly, Yinghui Xu, Barcey T. Levy, David A. Bedell, Michael D. Marquardt, Kathleen M. Vonderhaar, Paul A. James
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2012-04-01
Series:Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2150131911421347
Description
Summary:Objective : A diabetes management program was implemented in a rural primary care office for those who did not choose to consult a multidisciplinary specialty care. The purposes of this study were to describe the current practices and health care provider management of patients with diabetes in a rural primary care office and determine differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic persons concerning diabetes self-care behaviors, barriers to self-care, and their association with glycosylated hemoglobin level. Methods : A retrospective medical record review of diabetes-related medical information was completed. Results : Sixty-one (74%) of the 83 patients with diabetes completed the questionnaire and had the diabetes management program implemented (problem summary and clinical summary generated). Medical record review was completed for 83 (100%) subjects. Glycosylated hemoglobin was significantly higher for the younger group and women. Hispanic women and married persons had significantly higher glycosylated hemoglobin than did non-Hispanic and unmarried persons. Hispanic persons who were obese had significantly higher glycosylated hemoglobin. Self-care behaviors for managing diabetes were different by group. Non-Hispanic subjects reported taking their diabetes medications 99% of the time and Hispanic subjects 50% of the time. Discussion : It was feasible to implement a diabetes management program in a rural primary care setting, and its implementation highlighted the ethnic differences for Hispanics and non-Hispanics in diabetes self-care behavior, barriers to self-care, and family support for diabetes management. The implementation of the diabetes management program, though, was time-consuming and costly and was facilitated outside of the usual realm of practice.
ISSN:2150-1319
2150-1327