Abstract
Background: Better adherence to guideline-recommended glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing frequency is associated with better glycaemic control and lower risk of complications such as chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study investigates patient and practice factors associated with adherence to guideline-recommended HbA1c testing frequency.
Methods: A cohort of type 2 diabetes patients who regularly visited general practices from 2012 to 2018 was identified from 225 Australian general practices. With the goal of ≤53 mmol/mol, Australian guidelines recommend HbA1c testing at least 6-monthly. Patient history of HbA1c tests from 2017 to 2018 was used to define adherence to guidelines, and the associations with patient and practice factors were examined by regression models.
Results: Of the 6881 patients, 2186 patients (31.8%) had 6-monthly HbA1c testing. Patient age and anti-diabetic medications were associated with adherence to 6-monthly testing. When financial incentives are available to practices, a larger practice was associated with better adherence to 6-monthly testing.
Conclusions: The identified key factors such as age, practice size, medication, and incentive payments can be used to target initiatives aimed at improving guideline-recommended monitoring care for patients with type 2 diabetes to enhance their health outcomes.
Methods: A cohort of type 2 diabetes patients who regularly visited general practices from 2012 to 2018 was identified from 225 Australian general practices. With the goal of ≤53 mmol/mol, Australian guidelines recommend HbA1c testing at least 6-monthly. Patient history of HbA1c tests from 2017 to 2018 was used to define adherence to guidelines, and the associations with patient and practice factors were examined by regression models.
Results: Of the 6881 patients, 2186 patients (31.8%) had 6-monthly HbA1c testing. Patient age and anti-diabetic medications were associated with adherence to 6-monthly testing. When financial incentives are available to practices, a larger practice was associated with better adherence to 6-monthly testing.
Conclusions: The identified key factors such as age, practice size, medication, and incentive payments can be used to target initiatives aimed at improving guideline-recommended monitoring care for patients with type 2 diabetes to enhance their health outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 520-526 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Australian Journal of Primary Health |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 16 Mar 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2023. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- adherence
- diabetes mellitus
- disease management
- glycated haemoglobin A1c
- incentive
- monitoring
- practice guideline
- practice size
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Dive into the research topics of 'Patient and practice factors associated with HbA1c testing frequency in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study in Australian general practice'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
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NHMRC Partnership Centre on Health System Sustainability
Braithwaite, J. (Primary Chief Investigator), Ward, R. (Chief Investigator), Anderson, T. (Chief Investigator), Teede, H. (Chief Investigator), Wells, L. (Chief Investigator), Gray, L. (Chief Investigator), Yeend, T. (Chief Investigator), Coiera, E. (Chief Investigator), Westbrook, J. (Chief Investigator), Glasziou, P. (Chief Investigator), Scott, A. (Chief Investigator), Karnon, J. (Chief Investigator) & Buchbinder, R. (Chief Investigator)
1/07/17 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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