The Exeter Diabetic Project: an acceptable district-wide education programme for general practitioners

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Medical Education
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Health Districts serve as logical administrative units for health service planning.
• Effective planning requires understanding the feasibility of delivering targeted educational programs to healthcare professionals within these districts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of delivering continuing education for general practitioners (GPs) within a defined Health District.
• To evaluate the impact of this education on GPs' skills and confidence in managing diabetic patients, specifically regarding retinopathy screening.

Main Methods:

• An educational program was developed and delivered at convenient locations within the Exeter Health District.
• Participation rates of GPs were recorded.
• Questionnaires were administered to assess GPs' self-reported skills, responsibilities in managing diabetic patients, and perceived usefulness of the educational sessions.

Main Results:

• 89% of GPs in the Exeter Health District participated in the educational program.
• 76% of participating GPs reported inadequate skills in retinal assessment, despite 98% acknowledging responsibility for managing diabetic patients.
• 74% of GPs reported learning from the retinopathy screening clinic, and 100% found sessions on eye disease helpful.

Conclusions:

• Delivering targeted educational programs within a Health District is feasible and can significantly improve GP engagement.
• The education effectively addressed identified skill gaps in retinopathy screening, enhancing GPs' ability to manage diabetic eye complications.
• This approach supports district-wide health initiatives by upskilling primary care physicians.