General practitioner Clinical Assistant rotation in the diabetes clinic increases confidence in the care of patients with diabetes

✍ Scribed by O'Mullane, NM

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 349 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1357-8170
• DOI: 10.1002/pdi.1960110607

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A Clinical Assistant rotation in the diabetes clinic lasting four months was offered to general practitioners, with a view to giving “hands‐on” experience in diabetes care.

Six general practitioners have completed the scheme so far. The general practitioners spent time with the diabetes physician, dietitian, chiropodlst, specialist nurse and also saw the patients themselves. A visual analogue scale was used to assess their confidence before and after the course.

Confidence scores before: after, and range of mean () were: neuropathic assessment 3.5 (2−4): 7.5 (5−9), assessment of retinopathy 2.5 (1−3): 6.1 (5−8), relevance of blochemical tests 4.3 (2−7): 7.8 (7−8), advice on diet 4.6 (4−5): 7.3 (4−8), use of oralhypoglycaemics 3.8 (3−5): 7.3 (6−8), knowledge of insulins 2.8 (1−4): 6.3 (5−8). Patient educational topics included action of insulins 4.5 (2−6): 7.5 (5−10), action of tablets 4.6 (3−6): 7.8 (6−10), blood glucose monitoring 5.1 (4−6): 8.1 (5−10) and foot care 4.6 (1−8): 7.8 (4−10).

A structured rotation for general practitioners for four months through the diabetes clinic improved their confidence in education, treating and screening patinets with diabetes.