Diabetes and research in primary care: how to improve the care of our patients?
Rieder, A.; Haller, D.M.; Sebo, P.; Brinkley, B.; Janjic, D.; Sommer, J.
Revue Medicale Suisse 6(249): 1006-1009
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 20568365 Document Number: 640926
Family practitioners are well aware of the guidelines for diabetic care yet they often find it difficult to apply them in practice. Experience from the literature as well as our own research provide guidance on ways to address this problem in Primary care: 1) collaboration with a nurse practitioner for the prevention of micro and macro-angiopathic complications, 2) the use of motivational interviewing techniques to motivate patients to lifestyle changes, 3) multidisciplinary collaboration (with specialists, nurses, colleagues, pharmacists, etc) and the support of information technology. Research within the Swiss academic institutes of Primary care should provide further, more concrete, guidance on ways to apply these different options in Switzerland to improve the quality of care for diabetic patients.