Improved structured education uptake by systematising the offer
Published Date: 07th October 2020
Publication Authors: Mitchell L, Cardwell J, Bujawansa S, Hardy KJ
Aims
In the UK, attendance at diabetes‐structured education is poor. Indeed, even evidence of a formal offer of structured education is sometimes lacking. Our aim was to improve education update by mailing a validated letter offering structured education to every person registered with diabetes in our borough.
Methods
With appropriate information governance, using electronic GP lists, we identified 12,549 people with diabetes in our local borough. With our diabetes user group, we designed an easy‐to‐read structured letter offering attendance at a validated, local structured education course.
Results
For type 1 diabetes, 19 of 34 (55%) local practices agreed to provide data about their patients, resulting in 494/898 patients with type 1 diabetes receiving an offer of education; 52 (11%) patients with type 1 diabetes requested structured education, of whom 33 attended, 13 did not attend or cancelled and 6 are yet to attend.
For type 2 diabetes, 25 of 34 (78%) local practices agreed to provide data about their patients, resulting in 9,037 of 11,651 patients with type 2 diabetes receiving an offer of education; 1,285 (14%) patients with type 2 diabetes requested structured education, of whom 761 attended, 378 did not attend or cancelled and 71 are yet to attend.
Conclusion
A systematised, patient‐designed approach to the offer of structured education improved uptake, but much still needs to be done (including perhaps non‐face to face digital alternatives), if universal uptake of structured diabetes patient education is to be achieved.
Mitchell, L; Cardwell, J; Bujawansa, S; Hardy, K. (2020). Improved structured education uptake by systematising the offer. Diabetic Medicine. 37 (S1), 95