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Improving organisational systems for diabetes care in Australian Indigenous communities

Bailie, Ross S., Si, Damin, Dowden, Michelle, O'Donoghue, Lynette R., Connors, Christine M., Robinson, Gary W., Cunningham, Joan and Weeramanthri, Tarun S. (2007). Improving organisational systems for diabetes care in Australian Indigenous communities. BMC Health Services Research,7(1):67-78.

Document type: Journal Article
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Title Improving organisational systems for diabetes care in Australian Indigenous communities
Author Bailie, Ross S.
Si, Damin
Dowden, Michelle
O'Donoghue, Lynette R.
Connors, Christine M.
Robinson, Gary W.
Cunningham, Joan
Weeramanthri, Tarun S.
Journal Name BMC Health Services Research
Publication Date 2007
Volume Number 7
Issue Number 1
ISSN 14726963   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-34249036420
Start Page 67
End Page 78
Total Pages 12
Place of Publication United Kingdom
Publisher BioMed Central
Abstract Background: Indigenous Australians experience disproportionately high prevalence of, and morbidity and mortality from diabetes. There is an urgent need to understand how Indigenous primary care systems are organised to deliver diabetes services to those most in need, to monitor the quality of diabetes care received by Indigenous people, and to improve systems for better diabetes care.

Methods: The intervention featured two annual cycles of assessment, feedback workshops, action planning, and implementation of system changes in 12 Indigenous community health centres. Assessment included a structured review of health service systems and audit of clinical records. Main process of care measures included adherence to guideline-scheduled services and medication adjustment. Main patient outcome measures were HbA1c, blood pressure and total cholesterol levels.

Results: There was good engagement of health centre staff, with significant improvements in system development over the study period. Adherence to guideline-scheduled processes improved, including increases in 6 monthly testing of HbA1c from 41% to 74% (Risk ratio 1.93, 95% CI 1.71–2.10), 3 monthly checking of blood pressure from 63% to 76% (1.27, 1.13–1.37), annual testing of total cholesterol from 56% to 74% (1.36, 1.20–1.49), biennial eye checking by a ophthalmologist from 34% to 54% (1.68, 1.39–1.95), and 3 monthly feet checking from 20% to 58% (3.01, 2.52–3.47). Medication adjustment rates following identification of elevated HbA1c and blood pressure were low, increasing from 10% to 24%, and from 13% to 21% respectively at year 1 audit. However, improvements in medication adjustment were not maintained at the year 2 follow-up. Mean HbA1c value improved from 9.3 to 8.9% (mean difference -0.4%, 95% CI -0.7;-0.1), but there was no improvement in blood pressure or cholesterol control.

Conclusion: This quality improvement (QI) intervention has proved to be highly acceptable in the Indigenous Australian primary care setting and has been associated with significant improvements in systems and processes of care and some intermediate outcomes. However, improvements appear to be limited by inadequate attention to abnormal clinical findings and medication management. Greater improvement in intermediate outcomes may be achieved by specifically addressing system barriers to therapy intensification through more effective engagement of medical staff in QI activities and/or greater use of nurse-practitioners.
Keywords Indigenous Australians
primary care systems
morbidity and mortality from diabetes
diabetes care
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-7-67   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)


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Created: Tue, 23 Oct 2012, 10:28:29 CST by Teresa Haendel