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Authors | Institution |
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Pochamana Phisalprapa Chalobol Chalermsri Chaiwat Washirasaksiri Weerachai Srivanichakorn Charoen Chouriyagune Denla Pandejpong |
Division of Ambulatory Medicine, Department of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand |
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| Clinical Outcomes of Type 2 Diabetic Patients attending Academic Siriraj Continuity of Care Clinic |
Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases in the Thai population, and it is well known that diabetic complications could be prevented with appropriate management. Despite published guidelines, most Thai patients with diabetes do not achieve treatment goals. Siriraj Continuity of Care clinic (CC clinic) was recently established in order to provide training for medical students and internal medicine residents. It is possible that the training component in the CC clinic may contribute to better overall outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients when compared with usual care at the medical out-patient department (OPD). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of diabetic management in type 2 diabetes patients who attened the CC clinic and the medical OPD.
Retrospective chart review was performed in type 2 diabetes patients who were treated at either clinic at Siriraj Hospital in 2007-2011. Baseline demographics, treatment strategies and outcomes, and participation in appropriate health maintenance program were assessed in both groups.
Diabetic patients treated at the CC clinic had better clinical outcomes and healthcare maintenance compared with those who received usual care at the medical OPD. Continuity of care and integrated training component may have contributed to the improved outcomes.
The focus training components in this clinic has played a major role on contributing the preferred clinical performance among medical students and internal medicine residents.
Seven hundred and fifty seven medical records were reviewed, including 383 patients in the CC clinic group and 374 in the OPD group. HbA1c was significantly lower in the CC clinic group compare with the OPD group (7.3% and 7.8%, respectively). The number of patients who achieved goal HbA1c of less than 7% in CC clinic group was 107 (32.1%) compared with 71 (24.3%) in the OPD group (p = 0.039). More patients were screened for diabetic complications in the CC clinic group compared with the OPD group, including screening for diabetic neuropathy (57.4% vs. 2.1%, p <.001), diabetic retinopathy (56.7% vs. 36.6%, p <.001), and diabetic nephropathy (80.9% vs. 36.9%, p <.001). Patients in the CC clinic group had a higher rate of age-appropriate cancer screening than those in the OPD group (54.0% vs. 13.3%, p <.001 for breast cancer; 24.0% vs. 0.9%, p <.001 for cervical cancer; and 23.0% vs. 7.2%, p <.001 for colon cancer). Moreover, significantly more patients in the CC clinic group received recommended immunization (influenza, diphtheria tetanus and pneumococcal vaccine) compared with the control group (p <.001).
The Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
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