[Level of knowledge about insulinization by Primary Care physicians and its impact on diabetes control]

To determine the level of knowledge and current management of starting insulin treatment by Primary Care physicians, and its impact on metabolic control.

A mainly qualitative exploratory sequential study, with a phenomenological approach, followed by a quantitative phase. The study included 37 primary care physicians from the Andalusian Health Service. Socio-demographic and clinical care variables were analysed. Univariate and bivariate analyses were performed.

There was a wide variability between Primary Care physicians in the level of knowledge of treatment with insulins (low knowledge: 13.5%; medium knowledge: 59.5%; high knowledge: 27.0%). There was a direct relationship between the level of knowledge and the attainment of HbA1c goals (as the level of knowledge increased, the metabolic control improved). The most common basal insulins prescribed were insulin glargine U-100 (56.8%), followed by insulin glargine U-300 (29.7%), and neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) insulin (8.1%). There was a trend to show a different prescription pattern with basal insulins (as the level of knowledge decreased, the prescription of mixed and NPH insulins increased). More than one-third (35.1%) of primary care physicians did not know more complex patterns of treatment with insulins.

Only 27% of Primary Care physicians had a high knowledge about treatment with insulins. There was a direct relationship between the level of knowledge about insulins and glycaemic control. It is necessary to improve the knowledge about insulin therapy in order to optimise metabolic control and reduce the risk of complications.