Chronic disease management in general practice: results from a national study.
The aim of this study was to provide baseline data on chronic disease management (CDM) provision in Irish general practice (GP). The survey instrument was previously used in a study of primary care physicians in 11 countries, thus allowing international comparisons. The response rate was 72% (380/527).The majority of GPs (240/380; 63%) reported significant changes are needed in our health care system to make CDM work better. Small numbers of routine clinical audits are being performed (95/380; 25%). Irish GPs use evidence based guidelines for treatment of diabetes (267/380; 71%), asthma / COPD (279/380; 74%) and hypertension (297/380; 79%), to the same extent as international counterparts. Barriers to delivering chronic care include increased workload (379/380; 99%), lack of appropriate funding (286/380; 76%), with GPs interested in targeted payments (244/380; 68%). This study provides baseline data to assess future changes in CDM.
Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, AMNCH, Tallaght, Dublin 24. catherine.darker@tcd.ie
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Darker
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Martin
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O'Dowd
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O'Kelly
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O'Shea
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019468:Disease Management; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D016015:Logistic Models; D016526:Workload