Suboptimal quality of type 2 diabetes care discovered through electronic feedback led to increased nurse-GP cooperation. A qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the influence of electronic feedback system (EFS) on providing type 2 diabetes care in general practice using a qualitative approach embedded in a randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
All 160 general practitioners (GPs) randomized to receive EFS were invited. Thirteen GPs from two solo and two partnership practices were interviewed about their experience with the EFS which provided data on the quality of diabetes care in their practices. Data was analysed using a qualitative descriptive approach.


RESULTS
All participants found the insight into the overall quality of their diabetes care beneficial. While the two solo practices reported of no changes, the EFS catalysed organisational changes in the two partnership practices by allocating a number of diabetes controls to nurses. Limited time and a lack of real-time data were main barriers towards using the system.


CONCLUSIONS
EFS used at an overall level provided an overview of the diabetes population which made GPs aware of the need to improve the quality of diabetes care. The EFS influenced partnership practices, but not solo practices, to hire nurses and allocate parts of diabetes care to them. The findings are important in the interpretation of the effect of EFS.
Guldberg
Trine Lignell
TL
Department of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark; Research Unit for General Practice, Institute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark. Trine.Guldberg@alm.au.dk
Vedsted
Peter
P
Lauritzen
Torsten
T
Zoffmann
Vibeke
V
D001294:Attitude to Health; D003718:Denmark; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D004581:Electronics; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D010821:Physicians, Family