Examining Dose of Diabetes Group Medical Visits and Characteristics of the Uninsured.
Type 2 diabetes is a significant problem for the uninsured. Diabetes Group Medical Visits (DGMVs) have been reported to improve outcomes. However, it is not known if the increased workload of the health care team to treat and educate patients at multiple visits has an impact on patient functioning and well-being. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of dose of DGMVs on biophysical outcomes of care in uninsured persons with diabetes. No significant correlations were found between number of DGMVs attended and biophysical outcomes of care. However, the majority of patients attended two or less DGMVs in 1 year. Dose of DGMVs did not impact outcomes and may not be enough to assure attendance. Involving patients to construct patient-centered interventions may decrease the treatment burden faced by both patients and providers. In addition, such interventions should be aimed at understanding reasons for low attendance, particularly in rural impoverished adults.
West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA jamallow@hsc.wvu.edu.
Jennifer A
JA
Mallow
West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.
Laurie A
LA
Theeke
West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.
Emily R
ER
Barnes
West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA.
Tara
T
Whetsel
D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
adults; clinical focus; community; location of care; metabolic; population focus