title: Evaluation of the quality of care of a multi-disciplinary risk factor assessment and management programme (RAMP) for diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a common chronic disease associated with multiple clinical complications. Management guidelines have been established which recommend a risk-stratified approach to managing these patients in primary care. This study aims to evaluate the quality of care (QOC) and effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary risk assessment and management programme (RAMP) for type 2 diabetic patients attending government-funded primary care clinics in Hong Kong. The evaluation will be conducted using a structured and comprehensive evidence-based evaluation framework.
  
  
  METHODS
  For evaluation of the quality of care, a longitudinal study will be conducted using the Action Learning and Audit Spiral methodologies to measure whether the pre-set target standards for criteria related to the structure and process of care are achieved. Each participating clinic will be invited to complete a Structure of Care Questionnaire evaluating pre-defined indicators which reflect the setting in which care is delivered, while process of care will be evaluated against the pre-defined indicators in the evaluation framework.Effectiveness of the programme will be evaluated in terms of clinical outcomes, service utilization outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes. A cohort study will be conducted on all eligible diabetic patients who have enrolled into RAMP for more than one year to compare their clinical and public service utilization outcomes of RAMP participants and non-participants. Clinical outcome measures will include HbA1c, blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic), lipids (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and future cardiovascular diseases risk prediction; and public health service utilization rate will include general and specialist outpatient, emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions annually within 5 years. For patient-reported outcomes, a total of 550 participants and another 550 non-participants will be followed by telephone to monitor quality of life, patient enablement, global rating of change in health and private health service utilization at baseline, 6, 12, 36 and 60 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of care and effectiveness of the RAMP in enhancing the health for patients with type 2 diabetes will be determined. Possible areas for quality enhancement will be identified and standards of good practice can be established. The information will be useful in guiding service planning and policy decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Ap Lei Chau Clinic, 161 Main Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong. cfsc@hku.hk
authors.forename: Colman S C
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Weng Yee
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Daisy S K
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Ruby L P
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Eva L H
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: Yuk Fai
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Carlos K H
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Daniel Y T
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Cindy L K
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000592:standards; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome