A randomized study of the impact of home health aides on diabetic control and utilization patterns.
Home health aides were offered to half of a group of 227 low-income diabetic clinic patients; in the group offered aides, fasting blood sugar (FBS) declined when compared to control group (10.1 mg/dl vs an increase of 5.1 mg/dl), and missed clinic appointments and emergency room use also decreased. The group of 44, who, upon offer of an aide actually accepted one, showed a significant increase in eye clinic appointments as well as the greatest decline in FBS (13.9 mg/dl).
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011897:Random Allocation
D001786:Blood Glucose