[Multidisciplinary educational health programme for type 2 diabetic patients in primary care]

Type 2 diabetic patients followed in primary care rarely benefit from a structured educational approach in spite of the fact that the intervention of a multidisciplinary team has proven its efficacy for improving metabolic control. We describe a pilot project, which aimed at implementing an ambulatory multidisciplinary programme and at evaluating the feasibility of an educational module in type 2 diabetic patients followed in primary care. Four general practitioners (GP) selected 25 type 2 diabetic patients, not well controlled or with poor knowledge of their disease. Fourteen health care providers developed an intervention module comprising, over 4 months, an initial interview with the GP, three interviews with a dietician, two with a nurse and three with a psychologist. Besides studying the feasibility of the project, the primary objective was to analyze the subjective feeling of both patients and heath care providers participating to the project. A secondary objective was to compare some parameters of control (HbA1c, body weight) before and after the intervention in these 25 patients, and in 10 control patients followed as usual in general practice. The multidisciplinary educational intervention was well appreciated by diabetic patients whose adhesion was excellent. Health care provider's mobilization was enthusiastic, and all emphasized the human positive aspects of such a multidisciplinary approach. Preliminary analysis demonstrates beneficial effects of the educational programme.