Quality of diabetes care in a university health center in Lebanon

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 diabetics, on oral hypoglycemic agents. Glycosplated hemoglobin was documented in 39.7% of patients, fasting plasma glucose in 99%, cholesterol in 93.1 %, triglycerides in 91.24'0 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 diabetics 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 sell-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.