International Journal for Quality in Health Care 11:517-521 (1999)
© 1999 International Society for Quality in Health Care
Quality of diabetes care in a university health center in Lebanon
Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut - Medical Center, PO Box 113-6044, Beirut, Lebanon
z Corresponding author
Tel: +961 3 891418
Fax: +961 1 300654
E-mail: ma00@aub.edu.lb
Objective.To assess the quality of care provided to diabetic patients by family physicians in a university health clinic, using measures of glycemic and cardiovascular risk control as well as documentation of and adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for diabetes primary care.
Design.Chart review of the previous year's medical notes for all identified diabetics in the practice over 2.5 years.
Results.Two-hundred and four diabetic patients were identified, with an estimated prevalence of 4.1%. The majority was type II diabetes, on oral hypoglycemic agents. Glycosylated hemoglobin was documented in 39.7% of patients, fasting plasma glucose in 99%, cholesterol in 93.1%, triglycerides in 91.2% and blood pressure in 85.8%; optimal control of these indicators was noted in 28.4%, 17.8%, 34%, 29.6% and 55.4% respectively. Fifty percent of the diabetes were referred for retinal checks. Physicians documented the presence of nephropathy in 46.8% and neuropathy in 59.6%; however, they documented patient instruction on foot care, diet, exercise and diabetes self-care poorly.
Conclusion.There is a need for interventions to improve management and documentation in diabetes care in order to achieve early detection and prevention of complications. Developing a protocol for the clinic based on standard guidelines, and the use of flow sheets may be helpful in improving these intermediate indicators of quality of care.
Keywords: chart audit, clinical practice guidelines, diabetes, health management organization, family practice, Lebanon
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  N. Taleb, H. Salti, M. Al-Mokaddam, M. Merheb, I. Salti, and M. Nasrallah Vascular complications of diabetes in Lebanon: Experience at the American University of Beirut The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, March 1, 2008; 8(2): 80 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Alberti, N. Boudriga, and M. Nabli "Damm Sokkor": Factors Associated With the Quality of Care of Patients With Diabetes: A study in primary care in Tunisia Diabetes Care, August 1, 2007; 30(8): 2013 - 2018. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. T. Kirchhoff, P. R. Anumandla, K. T. Foth, S. N. Lues, and S. H. Gilbertson-White Documentation on Withdrawal of Life Support in Adult Patients in the Intensive Care Unit Am. J. Crit. Care., July 1, 2004; 13(4): 328 - 334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|