title: Six-monthly diabetes monitoring of well-controlled patients: experiences of primary care providers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine experiences of primary care providers with six-monthly diabetes monitoring of well-controlled patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was part of the EFFIMODI study, examining whether six-monthly monitoring of well-controlled (HbA1c ≤58 mmol/mol, systolic blood pressure ≤145 mmHg and total cholesterol ≤5.2 mmol/l) type 2 diabetes patients results in equivalent cardiometabolic control compared to three-monthly monitoring. Primary care providers completed a questionnaire about their experiences with six-monthly diabetes monitoring, whether they want to continue six-monthly monitoring and for which type of patients six-monthly monitoring is sufficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 163 questionnaires, 157 (96.3%) were completed and returned. Only 14 (8.9%) primary care providers were negative about the six-monthly monitoring and 102 (65.0%) would like to continue six-monthly monitoring. Primary care providers disagreed about patients' ability to determine their own monitoring frequency and whether six-monthly monitoring was suitable for all well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients. Practical concerns emerged such as the inability to declare healthcare costs and the unsuitability of electronic health record systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost two out of three primary care providers would like to continue six-monthly monitoring of well-controlled type 2 diabetes patients. However, some diabetes care providers should be convinced and some practical concerns should be solved.
authors: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, STR 6.131, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: P.Wermeling@umcutrecht.nl.
authors: Paulien R
authors: PR
authors: Wermeling
authors: Jolien
authors: J
authors: Janssen
authors: Kees J
authors: KJ
authors: Gorter
authors: Joline W J
authors: JW
authors: Beulens
authors: Guy E H M
authors: GE
authors: Rutten
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D057240:Patient Preference; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes monitoring; Patient preference; Primary health care; Type 2