Perceptions, attitudes and beliefs among allied healthcare professionals managing people with Type 2 diabetes: an international cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Introduction: Many individuals with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) do not achieve their glycaemic targets, and allied healthcare professionals (HCPs) have a central role in their care.

Methods: Allied HCPs who advise/treat people with T2DM completed a cross-sectional, Internet-based survey to examine clinical practice patterns and identify barriers to achieving glycaemic control. Responses from 280 allied HCPs from 51 countries were analysed.

Results: Participants were mostly from North America (46%), Australia/Oceania (17%) and Europe (16%). Many (65%) respondents reported that ≤60% of their patients achieve their HbA1c targets. Lack of motivation by HCPs and patients, as well as poor patient adherence to therapy, were identified as major barriers to achieving glycaemic targets. Strategies most frequently selected by HCPs to improve glycaemic outcomes were patient-focused.

Conclusions: Greater awareness among HCPs of their role in supporting and motivating patients to self-manage their condition may improve rates of glycaemic control among individuals with T2DM.

Keywords:

• Survey
• Diabetes management
• Glucose control
• Barriers
• Attitudes
• Allied healthcare professionals

Acknowledgements

The authors, in cooperation with the Global Partnership for Effective Diabetes Management, conceived and directed the development of the survey and approved the survey content, and were involved in the interpretation of the survey results. All authors reviewed the survey content and were involved in writing and/or reviewing the paper and had final approval of the submitted and published versions. The survey was administered and distributed by International Medical Press (London, UK) supported by an unrestricted educational grant from AstraZeneca. Ruth Wills of International Medical Press assisted with the analysis of the results and the writing of the manuscript.

Disclosures

The authors Anne-Marie Felton and Margaret McGill are members of the Global Partnership for Effective Diabetes Management, an independent multidisciplinary task force. Anne-Marie Felton has received honoraria/consultation fees from Ascensia, Sanofi, Lifescan and Novo Nordisk. Margaret McGill has received honoraria/consultation fees from AstraZeneca, MSD and Abbott and has participated on speakers bureaus for MSD, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca and Abbott.

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at [10.1080/20573316.2017.1409868].

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by AstraZeneca under educational grant number 69680. International Medical Press (London, UK) was the recipient of the grant.