[Epidemiologic monitoring system for the diabetic patient; use of computerized technology in the quality of medical care].
OBJECTIVE
To describe an instrument for epidemiologic surveillance of diabetes mellitus and evaluating the quality of care in primary health care.


METHODS
The study was conducted from January 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, at the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), in Hermosillo, Sonora. A single data collection form was designed, which contains items included in the diabetes care clinic of the Unit of Family Medicine of the Mexican Institute of Social Security.


RESULTS
We developed and implemented a software program to enter data from the paper format and to generate individual and group reports on attendance to scheduled medical visits, medical history, evolution of signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Electronic data systems allow the availability of reliable and continuing information for surveillance of the comprehensive care of the diabetic patient.
Rascón-Pacheco
R A
RA
Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Hermosillo, Sonora, México.
Santillana-Macedo
M A
MA
Romero-Arredondo
M E
ME
Rivera-Icedo
B M
BM
Romero-Cancio
J A
JA
Cota-Rembau
A I
AI
D003201:Computers; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*