Diabetes service management training and the need for a patient perspective: a 10-year evolution of training strategies and goals

In 1977, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare published guidelines for comprehensive care of patients with diabetes. The Stockholm County (1.6 million inhabitants) responded and opened a Diabetes Education and Training Centre, LUCD, in 1979. The goal was to reduce the impact of long-term complications. The centre should translate available knowledge about diabetes care into clinical practice, promoting a shift of patients and resources to the primary health care sector. Follow-up studies and new knowledge have changed the short-term training strategies; the long-term goal has remained unchanged. Current work is concentrated on training of staff, improving methods to support better patient learning, aiding organisational changes, and supporting large-scale interventions aimed at both patients, staff and the public. The patient can realize the goals. Knowledge and demands expressed by persons with diabetes are necessary for improvements of diabetes care. The skilled patient is also a guarantee for continuity of care. Regular follow-up of diabetes services was an important impetus for progressive change of short-term training strategies.