title: Utilisation of general practitioner services and achievement of guideline targets by people with diabetes who joined a peer-support program in Victoria, Australia.
abstract: This paper describes the use of general practitioner (GP) services and achievement of guideline targets by 285 adults with type 2 diabetes in urban and regional areas of Victoria, Australia. Anthropometric and biomedical measures and responses to a self-administered questionnaire were collected. Findings indicate that almost all participants had visited a GP and had had their hypoglycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measured in the past 6 months; less than one-third had visited a practice nurse. Fifty per cent achieved a HbA1c target of 7.0%; 40%, a total cholesterol ≤ 4.00 mmol/L; 39%, BP Systolic ≤ 130 mmHg; 51%, BP Diastolic ≤ 80 mmHg; 15%, body mass index ≤ 25 kg/m2; and 34% reported a moderately intense level of physical activity, that is, ≥ 30 min, 5 days a week. However, 39% of individuals achieved at least two targets and 18% achieved at least three of these guideline targets. Regional participants were more likely to report having a management plan and having visited a practice nurse, but they were less likely to have visited other health professionals. Therefore, a more sustained effort that also includes collaborative care approaches is required to improve the management of diabetes in Australia.
authors.forename: Lal B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rawal
authors.forename: Rory
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riddell
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunbar
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oldenburg
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010379:Peer Group; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human