Related Experiment Videos
Type 2 diabetes in family practice. Room for improvement
Stewart B Harris1, Moira Stewart, Judith Belle Brown
1Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London. sharris1@uwo.ca
Objective:
To further knowledge of diabetes management in family practice. DESIGN Retrospective, observational chart audit study.
Setting:
Southwestern Ontario.
Participant:
A random sample of non-academic family physicians and a random selection of their patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Main Outcome Measures:
Glycemic control as measured by HbA1c and adherence to recommendations in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).
Results:
Eighty-four percent of patients had at least one HbA1c test ordered in the previous year. Overall mean HbA1c was 0.079 and half-the patients had levels deemed acceptable by 1992 CPGs. Screening for microvascular complications was disappointing; only 28% were tested for microalbuminuria, and 15% were examined for diabetes-related foot conditions. Screening for macrovascular complications was more comprehensive; blood pressure was measured in 88%, and lipid profiles documented in 48%, of patient charts.
Conclusion:
Management of glycemic control and screening for microvascular and macrovascular disease in family practice can be improved.