Why don't patients with diagnosed diabetes attend a free 'Get Checked' annual review?
BACKGROUND
A key strategy for improving the management of patients with diabetes is the provision of a free annual review 'Get Checked'. Although it is known that certain patients do not attend these free reviews, little is known about the barriers.


METHODS
A group of patients with diabetes who had not attended an annual review in the previous two years were identified and sent questionnaires asking about the barriers to attending. Non-respondents where followed up with a telephone call. Barriers were thematically analysed.


RESULTS
26/68 patients identified patients responded (38%). Key issues identified included difficulty with transport, conflict with work and lack of motivation. There were differences in responses between Maori and non-Maori.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations include more emphasis in recognising Maori tikanga (culture), more flexible provision of services to allow working patients to attend and increased emphasis on reminders for patients.
Tesa
Porter
P
Waikato Clinical School, The University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Le Lièvre
Clem
C
Lawrenson
Ross
R
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009042:Motivation; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014186:Transportation; D014937:Work