Qualitative and Quantitative Evaluation of an Innovative Primary and Secondary Diabetes Clinic in Western Sydney

Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD) established an innovative diabetes service in May 2020, using virtual and in-person care, linking primary care with the diabetes specialist team. This study evaluated the service's feasibility using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Evaluation included: 1) thematic analysis of interviews and workshops with patients and health professionals (n = 28); 2) quantitative analysis of records of patients admitted July 2020-June 2021 (n = 110).

Key themes related to 1) benefits: convenient location, access to integrated care, advantages of virtual care; 2) challenges: hard for patients to ask questions, technology issues; 3) confidence: shared care decision making, multidisciplinary team; and 4) future directions: additional multidisciplinary services, expanded insulin stabilisation service, promotion.Improvements between baseline and 3 months included 1.3% reduction in HbA_1c (p < 0.05). Sulfonylurea dropped by 25% between initial appointment and follow-up, and GLP1RA/SGLT2i use increasing by 30% (p < 0.05). The clinic covered costs using Medicare billings and Nationally Weighted Activity Units.

The findings suggest this integrated care model was feasible and perceived as beneficial by both patients and providers. The clinic offers a promising model of practice that could be developed further to roll out in other regions for rural delivery of care.