title: Use of outcomes in monitoring healthcare - how many outcome measures are needed in monitoring diabetes in primary care?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between patient experience assessed through surveys of random samples of practice populations and intermediate outcome targets in those patients with diabetes, collected in the Quality and Outcomes Framework pay-for-performance scheme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The East Midlands region of England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and twenty-nine general practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression models were used to assess whether practice-level reports of patient experience of access and consultations were associated with achievement of treatment targets (HbA1c of 7.5% and 10% or lower, BP 145/85 mmHg or lower, and cholesterol 5 mmol/L or lower) in people with diabetes. Survey respondent characteristics (ethnicity, age, sex) and practice size, deprivation, and prevalence of diabetes and obesity were also assessed within the models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient experience of practice populations explained little of the variation in diabetes treatment targets. In the practice survey, the proportion of respondents who had seen a nurse in the last 6 months was associated with increased likelihood of achieving HbA1c of 7.5%, and being involved in decision-making or having tests and treatment explained were associated with achievement of HbA1c of 10% or less, cholesterol of 5 mmol/L or less, and BP of 145/85 or less.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although patient experience at practice level should be included in monitoring outcomes, it should not replace monitoring clinical outcomes in diabetes. A mix of clinical and patient experience measures will have to be used to monitor outcomes in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester,  UK.
authors.forename: Javid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suleman
authors.forename: Mohammed Saqib
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human