Faculty Collaboration Database

Use of secondary clinical data for research related to diabetes self-management education. Res Social Adm Pharm 2017;13(3):494-502

Date

09/01/2016

Pubmed ID

27577736

DOI

10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.07.002

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84994460812 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   10 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is a key component of ensuring optimal diabetes outcomes. Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have transformed diabetes management by providing organized and useful data. However, important gaps remain in the process of how practice settings track referrals and attendance to DSME.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use EMR data to examine patients' demographic, behavioral, and diabetes risk factors by referral pattern to a DSME program in a large midwestern Academic Medical Center.

METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional design using 2006-2013 EMR data from a Clinical Research Data Warehouse (CRDW). Data on 10,000 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomly extracted from the CRDW for analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to explore adjusted associations with referral to DSME.

RESULTS: Seven hundred forty patients with T2DM were referred to DSME. Results show that age at diagnosis, insurance status, race/ethnicity, language, alcohol use, use of insulin, HbA1c, LDL, systolic blood pressure, ophthalmology appointment, coronary artery disease, neuropathy, diabetic-retinopathy, and nephropathy were found to be factors significantly associated with a referral to DSME. Language emerged as a significant result; non-English speakers were more likely to receive a referral to DSME.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients referred for DSME had appropriate medical complications or social needs that would benefit from intensive education; however, there remains a considerable opportunity for improving the DSME referral process. Aspects of the physician decision-making process to refer or not refer patients to DSME warrant further investigation.

Author List

Azam LS, Jackson TA, Knudson PE, Meurer JR, Tarima SS

Authors

Paul Knudson MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
John R. Meurer MD, MBA Institute Director, Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Sergey S. Tarima PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Academic Medical Centers
Cross-Sectional Studies
Decision Making
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Education as Topic
Referral and Consultation
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Self Care