Six-monthly diabetes monitoring of well-controlled patients: Experiences of primary care providers

Publication date:



October 2013


SOURCE:Primary Care Diabetes, Volume 7, Issue 3

Author(s): Paulien R. Wermeling , Jolien Janssen , Kees J. Gorter , Joline W.J. Beulens , Guy E.H.M. Rutten

AimsTo examine experiences of primary care providers with six-monthly diabetes monitoring of well-controlled patients.MethodsThis study was part of the EFFIMODI study, examining whether six-monthly monitoring of well-controlled (HbA1c58mmol/mol, systolic blood pressure145mmHg and total cholesterol5.2mmol/l) type 2 diabetes patients results in equivalent cardiometabolic control compared to three-monthly monitoring. Primary care providers completed a questionnaire about their experiences with six-monthly diabetes monitoring, whether they want to continue six-monthly monitoring and for which type of patients six-monthly monitoring is sufficient.ResultsOf 163 questionnaires, 157 (96.3%) were completed and returned. Only 14 (8.9%) primary care providers were negative about the six-monthly monitoring and 102 (65.0%) would like to continue six-monthly monitoring. Primary care providers disagreed about patients' ability to determine their own monitoring frequency and whether six-monthly monitoring was suitable for all well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients. Practical concerns emerged such as the inability to declare healthcare costs and the unsuitability of electronic health record systems.ConclusionsAlmost two out of three primary care providers would like to continue six-monthly monitoring of well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients. However, some diabetes care providers should be convinced and some practical concerns should be solved.
Full Post