Quality Management in Diabetes Care

Using feedback and tailored support for clinicians, healthcare can be improved…

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Dutch researchers have measured the quality management for diabetes care in primary care settings and outpatients’ clinics after feedback and individual support.

The researchers used six domains of quality management including, questionnaires measured organization of care, multidisciplinary teamwork, patient centeredness, performance results, quality improvement policy, and management strategies (Score range 0-100%). Based on these scores, individuals received feedbacks and were granted access to all the quality improvement instruments. In addition, extra support in improving quality management was available including phone calls or a visit from an experienced healthcare consultant. After follow up of 1 year, level of diabetes quality management was measured from the baseline.

Out of a total of 60 participants, 51 completed the study. The overall quality management score improved from 59.8% (95% CI 57.0-62.6%) to 65.1% (62.8-67.5%; P < 0.0001). The feedback improved the overall quality management score (P= 0.001). Out of 44 participants who were in outpatient clinics group, 28 participants completed the study. The overall quality management score changed from 65.7% (CI 60.3-71.7%) to 67.3% (CI 62.9-71.7%; P = 0.30). Only the results in the domain "multidisciplinary teamwork" improved (P=0.001) for outpatient clinics group.

According to the authors, diabetes quality management and providing feedback improved the level of diabetes care in primary care settings but not in outpatient clinics.

Practice Pearls:

• In this study, primary care provider intervention has demonstrated significant improvement in diabetes quality care.
• In the outpatient clinic setting, only multidisciplinary teamwork improved.
• More studies are necessary with large numbers of participants and minimizing all the limitations that might led to this results.

Kuijpers-Campmans MJ. Changes in Quality Management in Diabetes Care Groups and Outpatient Clinics After Feedback and Tailored Support. Diabetes Care 2015; 38:285-292