Type 2 diabetes management in nurse-led primary healthcare settings in urban and rural Cameroon

Interventions to improve primary healthcare in rural settings: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Residents of rural areas have poorer health status, less healthy behaviours and higher mortality than urban dwellers, issues which are commonly addressed in primary care. Strengthening primary care may be an important tool to improve the health status of rural populations.

OBJECTIVE

Synthesize and categorize studies that examine interventions to improve rural primary care.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Experimental or observational studies published between January 1, 1996 and December 2022 that include an historical or concurrent control comparison.

SOURCES OF EVIDENCE

Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase.

CHARTING METHODS

We extracted and charted data by broad category (quality, access and efficiency), study design, country of origin, publication year, aim, health condition and type of intervention studied. We assigned multiple categories to a study where relevant.

RESULTS

372 papers met our inclusion criteria, divided among quality (82%), access (20%) and efficiency (13%) categories. A majority of papers were completed in the USA (40%), Australia (15%), China (7%) or Canada (6%). 35 (9%) papers came from countries in Africa. The most common study design was an uncontrolled before-and-after comparison (32%) and only 24% of studies used randomized designs. The number of publications each year has increased markedly over the study period from 1-2/year in 1997-99 to a peak of 49 papers in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite substantial inequity in health outcomes associated with rural living, very little attention is paid to rural primary care in the scientific literature. Very few studies of rural primary care use randomized designs.

Effectiveness of a nurse-led management intervention on systolic blood pressure among type 2 diabetes patients in Uganda: a cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HT) is an orchestrator of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Control of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HT as a whole is suboptimal in diabetes, partly due to the scarcity of doctors. While nurse-led interventions are pragmatic and cost-effective in the control of HT in primary health care, their effectiveness on SBP control among patients with T2D in Uganda is scantly known.

AIM

We evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led management intervention on SBP among T2D patients with a high ASCVD risk in Uganda.

METHODS

A two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial compared the nurse-led management intervention with usual doctor-led care. The intervention involved training nurses to provide structured health education, protocol-based HT/CVD management, 24-h phone calls, and 2-monthly text messages for 6 months. The primary outcome was the mean difference in SBP change among patients with T2D with a high ASCVD risk in the intervention and control groups after 6 months. The secondary outcome was the absolute difference in the number of patients at target for SBP, total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TG), and body mass index (BMI) after the intervention. The study was analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess intra-cluster effect modifiers. Statistical significance was set at 0.05 for all analyses.

RESULTS

Eight clinics (n = 388 patients) were included (intervention 4 clinics; n = 192; control 4 clinics; n = 196). A nurse-led intervention reduced SBP by -11.21 ± 16.02 mmHg with a mean difference between the groups of -13.75 mmHg (95% CI -16.48 to -11.02, p < 0.001). An increase in SBP of 2.54 ± 10.95 mmHg was observed in the control group. Diastolic blood pressure was reduced by -6.80 ± 9.48 mmHg with a mean difference between groups of -7.20 mmHg (95% C1 -8.87 to -5.48, p < 0.001). The mean differences in the change in ASCVD score and glycated hemoglobin were -4.73% (95% CI -5.95 to -3.51, p = 0.006) and -0.82% (95% CI -1.30 to -0.35, p = 0.001), respectively. There were significant absolute differences in the number of patients at target in SBP (p = 0.001), DBP (p = 0.003), and TC (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

A nurse-led management intervention reduces SBP and ASCVD risk among patients with T2D. Such an intervention may be pragmatic in the screening and management of HT/ASCVD in Uganda.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Pan African Clinical Trial Registry, PACTR202001916873358, registered on 6th October 2019.

Task shifting roles, interventions and outcomes for kidney and cardiovascular health service delivery among African populations: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Human resources for health (HRH) shortages are a major limitation to equitable access to healthcare. African countries have the most severe shortage of HRH in the world despite rising communicable and non-communicable disease (NCD) burden. Task shifting provides an opportunity to fill the gaps in HRH shortage in Africa. The aim of this scoping review is to evaluate task shifting roles, interventions and outcomes for addressing kidney and cardiovascular (CV) health problems in African populations.

METHODS

We conducted this scoping review to answer the question: "what are the roles, interventions and outcomes of task shifting strategies for CV and kidney health in Africa?" Eligible studies were selected after searching MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, and Africa journal online (AJOL). We analyzed the data descriptively.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies, conducted in 10 African countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda) were eligible for inclusion. There were few randomized controlled trials (n = 6; 18.2%), and tasks were mostly shifted for hypertension (n = 27; 81.8%) than for diabetes (n = 16; 48.5%). More tasks were shifted to nurses (n = 19; 57.6%) than pharmacists (n = 6; 18.2%) or community health workers (n = 5; 15.2%). Across all studies, the most common role played by HRH in task shifting was for treatment and adherence (n = 28; 84.9%) followed by screening and detection (n = 24; 72.7%), education and counselling (n = 24; 72.7%), and triage (n = 13; 39.4%). Improved blood pressure levels were reported in 78.6%, 66.7%, and 80.0% for hypertension-related task shifting roles to nurses, pharmacists, and CHWs, respectively. Improved glycaemic indices were reported as 66.7%, 50.0%, and 66.7% for diabetes-related task shifting roles to nurses, pharmacists, and CHWs, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Despite the numerus HRH challenges that are present in Africa for CV and kidney health, this study suggests that task shifting initiatives can improve process of care measures (access and efficiency) as well as identification, awareness and treatment of CV and kidney disease in the region. The impact of task shifting on long-term outcomes of kidney and CV diseases and the sustainability of NCD programs based on task shifting remains to be determined.

Qualitative study of pathways to care among adults with diabetes in rural Guatemala

OBJECTIVE

The burden of diabetes mellitus is increasing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Few studies have explored pathways to care among individuals with diabetes in LMICs. This study evaluates care trajectories among adults with diabetes in rural Guatemala.

DESIGN

A qualitative investigation was conducted as part of a population-based study assessing incidence and risk factors for chronic kidney disease in two rural sites in Guatemala. A random sample of 807 individuals had haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) screening for diabetes in both sites. Based on results from the first 6 months of the population study, semistructured interviews were performed with 29 adults found to have an HbA1c≥6.5% and who reported a previous diagnosis of diabetes. Interviews explored pathways to and experiences of diabetes care. Detailed interview notes were coded using NVivo and used to construct diagrams depicting each participant's pathway to care and use of distinct healthcare sectors.

RESULTS

Participants experienced fragmented care across multiple health sectors (97%), including government, private and non-governmental sectors. The majority of participants sought care with multiple providers for diabetes (90%), at times simultaneously and at times sequentially, and did not have longitudinal continuity of care with a single provider. Many participants experienced financial burden from out-of-pocket costs associated with diabetes care (66%) despite availability of free government sector care. Participants perceived government diabetes care as low-quality due to resource limitations and poor communication with providers, leading some to seek care in other health sectors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the fragmented, discontinuous nature of diabetes care in Guatemala across public, private and non-governmental health sectors. Strategies to improve diabetes care access in Guatemala and other LMICs should be multisectorial and occur through strengthened government primary care and innovative private and non-governmental organisation care models.

Integrated Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes in the Context of Multi-Morbidity in Africa: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Many adults diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) also have other known or unknown comorbid conditions. The rising prevalence of GDM and T2DM within a broader context of multimorbidity can best be addressed through an integrated management response, instead of stand-alone programs targeting specific infectious and/or chronic diseases.

Aim

To describe GDM and T2DM screening, care and cost-effectiveness outcomes in the context of multimorbidity through integrated interventions in Africa.

Methods

A systematic review of all published studies was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk Of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) was used to assess risk of bias. Data synthesis was conducted using narrative synthesis of included studies.

Results

A total of 9 out of 13 included studies reported integrated diabetes mellitus (DM) screening, 7 included integrated care and 9 studies addressed cases of newly detected DM who were asymptomatic in pre-diabetes stage. Only 1 study clearly analysed cost-effectiveness in home-based care; another 5 did not evaluate cost-effectiveness but discussed potential cost benefits of an integrated approach to DM screening and care. Compared to partial integration, only 2 fully integrated interventions yielded tangible results regarding DM screening, care and early detection of cases despite many that reported barriers to its sustainability.

Conclusion

Though few, integrated interventions for screening and/or care of DM in the context of multimorbidity within available resources in health systems throughout Africa exist and suggest that this approach is possible and could improve health outcomes.

Assessing service availability and readiness of healthcare facilities to manage diabetes mellitus in Bangladesh: Findings from a nationwide survey

Introduction

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs)as well as a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Around 80% diabetic patients live in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, there is a scarcity of data on the quality of DM management within health facilities. This study aims to describe service availability and readiness for DM at all tiers of health facilities using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) standard tool.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 266 health facilities all across Bangladesh using the WHO SARA standard tool. Descriptive analyses for the availability of DM services was carried out. Composite scores for facility readiness index (RI) were calculated in four domains: staff and guideline, basic equipment, diagnostic capacity, and essential medicines. Indices were stratified by facility level and a cut off value of 70% was considered as ‘ready’ to manage diabetes at each facility level.

Results

The mean RI score of tertiary and specialized hospitals was above the cutoff value of 70% (RI: 79%), whereas for District Hospitals (DHs), Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) and NGO and Private hospitals the RI scores were other levels of 65%, 51% and 62% respectively. This indicating that only the tertiary level of health facilities was ready to manage DM. However, it has been observed that the RI scores of the essential medicine domain was low at all levels of health facilities including tertiary-level.

Conclusions

The study revealed only tertiary level facilities were ready to manage DM. However, like other facilities, they require an adequate supply of essential medicines. Alongside the inadequate supply of medicines, shortage of trained staff and unavailability of guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of DM also contributed to the low RI score for rest of the facilities.

Perceptions of diabetes patients and their caregivers regarding access to medicine in a severely constrained health system: A qualitative study in Harare, Zimbabwe

Nearly half of all sub-Saharan African countries lack operational Diabetes Mellitus policies. This represents an opportunity to build reliable evidence to underpin such policies when they are eventually developed. Representing the interests of those with the experience of living with the condition in national diabetes policies is important, particularly the interests regarding medicine access, a key pillar in diabetes management. One way to achieve this representation is to publish patient perceptions. Patient perspectives are especially valuable in the context of diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa, where much of the empirical work has focused on clinical and epidemiological questions. We therefore captured the challenges and suggestions around medicine access articulated by a population of diabetes patients and their caregivers. This was a qualitative interpretivist study based on data from focus group discussions with adult diabetes patients and their caregivers. Eight FGDs of 4-13 participants each whose duration averaged 13.35 minutes were conducted. Participants were recruited from diabetes outpatient clinics at two health facilities in Harare. One site was Parirenyatwa Hospital, the largest public referral and teaching hospital in Zimbabwe. The other was a private for-profit facility. Ethics approval was granted by the Joint Research Ethics Committee for University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences and the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals (Ref: JREC 295/18). Diabetes patients and their caregivers are interested in affordable access to medicines of acceptable form and quality with minimum effort. Yet, they often find themselves privileging one dimension of access over another e.g. prioritising affordability over acceptability. Based on participants' articulations, a sound diabetes policy should: 1. provide for financial and consumer protections, 2. regulate healthcare business practices and medicine prices, 3. provide for a responsive health workforce attentive to patient problems, 4. accord the same importance to diabetes that is accorded to communicable diseases, 5. decentralize diabetes management to lower levels of care, 6. limit wastage, corruption, bad macro-financial governance and a lack of transparency about how funding for health is used, and 7. provide support to strengthen patients' and caregivers' psychosocial networks. A diabetes policy acceptable to patients is one infused with principles of good governance, fairness, inclusiveness and humanity; characterised by: financial protection and price regulation, consumer protection, equity in the attention accorded to different diseases, decentralized service delivery, inclusion of patient voice in political decision-making, a responsive compassionate health workforce, psychosocial support for patients and their caregivers and allocative efficiency and transparency in public expenditure.

Patient and health provider costs of integrated HIV, diabetes and hypertension ambulatory health services in low-income settings - an empirical socio-economic cohort study in Tanzania and Uganda

BACKGROUND

Integration of health services might be an efficient strategy for managing multiple chronic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, considering the scope of treatments and synergies in service delivery. Proven to promote compliance, integration may lead to increased economies-of-scale. However, evidence on the socio-economic consequences of integration for providers and patients is lacking. We assessed the clinical resource use, staff time, relative service efficiency and overall societal costs associated with integrating HIV, diabetes and hypertension services in single one-stop clinics where persons with one or more of these conditions were managed.

METHODS

2273 participants living with HIV infection, diabetes, or hypertension or combinations of these conditions were enrolled in 10 primary health facilities in Tanzania and Uganda and followed-up for up to 12 months. We collected data on resources used from all participants and on out-of-pocket costs in a sub-sample of 1531 participants, while a facility-level costing study was conducted at each facility. Health worker time per participant was assessed in a time-motion morbidity-stratified study among 228 participants. The mean health service cost per month and out-of-pocket costs per participant visit were calculated in 2020 US$ prices. Nested bootstrapping from these samples accounted for uncertainties. A data envelopment approach was used to benchmark the efficiency of the integrated services. Last, we estimated the budgetary consequences of integration, based on prevalence-based projections until 2025, for both country populations.

RESULTS

Their average retention after 1 year service follow-up was 1911/2273 (84.1%). Five hundred and eighty-two of 2273 (25.6%) participants had two or all three chronic conditions and 1691/2273 (74.4%) had a single condition. During the study, 84/2239 (3.8%) participants acquired a second or third condition. The mean service costs per month of managing two conditions in a single participant were $39.11 (95% CI 33.99, 44.33), $32.18 (95% CI 30.35, 34.07) and $22.65 (95% CI 21.86, 23.43) for the combinations of HIV and diabetes and of HIV and hypertension, diabetes and hypertension, respectively. These costs were 34.4% (95% CI 17.9%, 41.9%) lower as compared to managing any two conditions separately in two different participants. The cost of managing an individual with all three conditions was 48.8% (95% CI 42.1%, 55.3%) lower as compared to managing these conditions separately. Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure per participant per visit was $7.33 (95% CI 3.70, 15.86). This constituted 23.4% (95% CI 9.9, 54.3) of the total monthly service expenditure per patient and 11.7% (95% CI 7.3, 22.1) of their individual total household income. The integrated clinics' mean efficiency benchmark score was 0.86 (range 0.30-1.00) suggesting undercapacity that could serve more participants without compromising quality of care. The estimated budgetary consequences of managing multi-morbidity in these types of integrated clinics is likely to increase by 21.5% (range 19.2-23.4%) in the next 5 years, including substantial savings of 21.6% on the provision of integrated care for vulnerable patients with multi-morbidities.

CONCLUSION

Integration of HIV services with diabetes and hypertension control reduces both health service and household costs, substantially. It is likely an efficient and equitable way to address the increasing burden of financially vulnerable households among Africa's ageing populations. Additional economic evidence is needed from longer-term larger-scale implementation studies to compare extended integrated care packages directly simultaneously with evidence on sustained clinical outcomes.

Community health worker-led, technology-enabled private sector intervention for diabetes and hypertension management among urban poor: a retrospective cohort study from large Indian metropolitan city

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the effectiveness of community health workers (CHWs)-led, technology-enabled programme as a large-scale, real-world solution for screening and long-term management of diabetes and hypertension in low-income and middle-income countries.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort design.

SETTING

Forty-seven low-income neighbourhoods of Hyderabad, a large Indian metropolis.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (aged ≥20 years) who subscribed to an ongoing community-based chronic disease management programme employing CHWs and technology to manage diabetes and hypertension.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

We used deidentified programme data between 1 March 2015 and 8 October 2018 to measure participants' pre-enrolment and post-enrolment retention rate and within time-interval mean difference in participants' fasting blood glucose and blood pressure using Kaplan-Meier and mixed-effect regression models, respectively.

RESULTS

51 126 participants were screened (median age 41 years; 65.2% women). Participant acquisition rate (screening to enrolment) was 4%. Median (IQR) retention period was 163.3 days (87.9-288.8), with 12 months postenrolment retention rate as 16.5% (95% CI 14.7 to 18.3). Reduction in blood glucose and blood pressure levels varied by participants' retention in the programme. Adjusted mean difference from baseline ranged from -14.0 mg/dL (95% CI -18.1 to -10.0) to -27.9 mg/dL (95% CI -47.6 to -8.1) for fasting blood glucose; -2.7 mm Hg (95% CI -7.2 to 2.7) to -7.1 mm Hg (95% CI -9.1 to -4.9) for systolic blood pressure and -1.7 mm Hg (95% CI -4.6 to 1.1) to -4.2 mm Hg (95% CI -4.9 to -3.6) for diastolic blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

CHW-led, technology-enabled private sector interventions can feasibly screen individuals for non-communicable diseases and effectively manage those who continue on the programme in the long run. However, changes in the model (eg, integration with the public health system to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure) may be needed to increase its adoption by individuals and thereby improve its cost-effectiveness.

Phone-Based Intervention under Nurse Guidance after Stroke (PINGS II) Study: Protocol for a Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVES

The Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region now has the highest estimated effect size of hypertension for stroke causation worldwide. An urgent priority for countries in SSA is to develop and test self-management interventions to control hypertension among those at highest risk of adverse outcomes. Thus the overall objective of the Phone-based Intervention under Nurse Guidance after Stroke II study (PINGS-2) is to deploy a hybrid study design to assess the efficacy of a theoretical-model-based, mHealth technology-centered, nurse-led, multi-level integrated approach to improve longer term blood pressure (BP) control among stroke survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A phase III randomized controlled trial involving 500 recent stroke survivors to be enrolled across 10 Ghanaian hospitals. Using a computer-generated sequence, patients will be randomly assigned 1:1 into the intervention or usual care arms. The intervention comprises of (i) home BP monitoring at least once weekly with nurse navigation for high domiciliary BP readings; (2) medication reminders using mobile phone alerts and (3) education on hypertension and stroke delivered once weekly via audio messages in preferred local dialects. The intervention will last for 12 months. The control group will receive usual care as determined by local guidelines. The primary outcome is the proportion of patients with systolic BP <140 mm Hg at 12 months. Secondary outcomes will include medication adherence, self-management of hypertension, major adverse cardiovascular events, health related quality of life and implementation outcomes.

CONCLUSION

An effective PINGS intervention can potentially be scaled up and disseminated across healthcare systems in low-and-middle income countries challenged with resource constraints to reduce poor outcomes among stroke survivors.

Effectiveness of a Female Community Health Volunteer-Delivered Intervention in Reducing Blood Glucose Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: An Open-Label, Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Female community health volunteers (FCHVs) are frontline community health workers who have been a valuable resource in improving public health outcomes in Nepal, but their value is understudied in diabetes care.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether an FCHV-delivered intervention is associated with reduced blood glucose levels among adults with type 2 diabetes.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This community-based, open-label, 2-group, cluster randomized clinical trial with a 12-month delayed control group design was conducted in 14 clusters of a semiurban setting in Western Nepal. A total of 244 adults with type 2 diabetes were recruited between November 2016 and April 2017. The follow-up assessment was conducted at 12 months after enrollment. Data analysis was performed from January to February 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

Seven clusters were randomized to the FCHV-delivered intervention in which 20 FCHVs provided home visits 3 times a year (once every 4 months) for health promotion counseling and blood glucose monitoring. If participants had blood glucose levels of 126 mg/dL or higher, the FCHVs referred them to the nearest health facility, and if participants were taking antihyperglycemic medication, they were followed up by the FCHVs for adherence to their medication. Seven clusters were randomized to usual care (control group).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the change in mean fasting blood glucose from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included changes in mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic blood pressure, mean body mass index, percentage change in the proportion of low physical activity, harmful alcohol consumption, current smoking, low fruit and vegetable intake, and antihyperglycemic medication status.

RESULTS

Of 244 participants, 120 women (56.6%) and 92 men (43.4%) completed the trial. At baseline, the mean (SD) age was 51.71 (8.77) years; 127 participants were in the intervention group, and 117 participants were in the control group (usual care). At baseline, the mean (SD) fasting blood glucose level was 156.06 (44.48) mg/dL (158.48 [45.50] mg/dL in the intervention group and 153.43 [43.39] mg/dL in the control group). At 12-month follow-up, the mean fasting blood glucose decreased by 22.86 mg/dL in the intervention group, whereas it increased by 7.38 mg/dL in the control group. The mean reduction was 27.90 mg/dL greater with the intervention (95% CI, -37.62 to -18.18 mg/dL; P < .001). In secondary outcome analyses, there was a greater decline in mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group than in the control group (-5.40 mm Hg; 95% CI, -8.88 to -1.92 mm Hg; P = .002). There was detectable difference in the intake of antihyperglycemic medication between the groups (relative risk, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.74; P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These findings suggest that an FCHV-delivered intervention is associated with reduced blood glucose levels among adults with type 2 diabetes in a low-resource setting in Nepal.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03304158.

Community-based interventions for prevention of Type 2 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Type 2 diabetes is an increasing burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Knowledge of effective prevention programs in LMICs is thus important. The aim of this review was to establish an overview of studies evaluating the effectiveness of community-based interventions for prevention of Type 2 diabetes in LMICs. A literature review with searches in the databases using MEDLINE in Ovid (Ovid MEDLINE® In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily, Ovid MEDLINE and Version (R); Embase; PsycINFO; Global Health; and Google Scholar) between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2015 was conducted. Only 10 studies that met our selection criteria were included; 3 were randomized controlled trials, 2 non-randomized controlled trials and 5 were pre-and post-intervention studies. About 9 of 10 studies reported significant reduction in both the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels as a result of the intervention. A majority of the studies included multicomponent interventions such as education and behavioral encompassing both individual and group work, and included health education, nutrition education, nutrition counseling, exercise and promoting physical activity, psychosocial approaches and lifestyle modification. The interventions were delivered by community health workers, volunteers, social workers, community nutritionists and community nurses. Comparisons between studies, however, was not possible due to substantial heterogeneity in study design. This review contributes to the current literature on community-based interventions for prevention of Type 2 diabetes in LMICs, acknowledging the community-based approach can be effective in prevention and control of Type 2 diabetes. Due to the heterogeneity across study designs, outcomes and in terms of variation and duration of interventions, only limited conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of interventions. More evidence from randomized controlled trials on culturally tailored, community-based interventions is needed to compare findings and test implementation in practice.

Setting up a nurse-led model of care for management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in a high HIV prevalence context in rural Zimbabwe: a descriptive study

Background

In the light of the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on health systems in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, context-adapted, cost-effective service delivery models are now required as a matter of urgency. We describe the experience of setting up and organising a nurse-led Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Hypertension (HTN) model of care in rural Zimbabwe, a low-income country with unique socio-economic challenges and a dual disease burden of HIV and NCDs.

Methods

Mirroring the HIV experience, we designed a conceptual framework with 9 key enablers: decentralization of services, integration of care, simplification of management guidelines, mentoring and task-sharing, provision of affordable medicines, quality assured laboratory support, patient empowerment, a dedicated monitoring and evaluation system, and a robust referral system. We selected 9 primary health care clinics (PHC) and two hospitals in Chipinge district and integrated DM and HTN either into the general out-patient department, pre-existing HIV clinics, or an integrated chronic care clinic (ICCC). We provided structured intensive mentoring for staff, using simplified protocols, and disease-specific education for patients. Free medication with differentiated periodic refills and regular monitoring with point of care (POC) glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were provided.

Results

Nurses in 7 PHC facilities and one hospital developed sufficient knowledge and skills to diagnose, initiate treatment and monitor DM and HTN patients, and 3094 patients were registered in the programme (188 with DM only, 2473 with HTN only, 433 with both DM and HTN). Major lessons learned from our experience include: the value of POC devices in the management of diabetes; the pressure on services of the added caseload, exacerbated by the availability of free medications in supported health facilities; and the importance of leadership in the successful implementation of care in health facilities.

Conclusion

Our experience demonstrates a model for nurse-led decentralized integrated DM and HTN care in a high HIV prevalence rural, low-income context. Developing a context-adapted efficient model of care is a dynamic process. We present our lessons learned with the intention of sharing experience which may be of value to other public health programme managers.

Assessment of Barriers and Facilitators to the Delivery of Care for Noncommunicable Diseases by Nonphysician Health Workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Analysis

IMPORTANCE

Cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Previous studies show that nonphysician health workers (NPHWs), including nurses and volunteers, can provide effective diagnosis and treatment of NCDs. However, the factors that facilitate and impair these programs are incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVE

To identify health system barriers to and facilitators of NPHW-led care for NCDs in low- and middle-income countries.

DATA SOURCES

All systematic reviews in PubMed published by May 1, 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

The search terms used for this analysis included "task shifting" and "non-physician clinician." Only reviews of NPHW care that occurred entirely or mostly in low- and middle-income countries and focused entirely or mostly on NCDs were included. All studies cited within each systematic review that cited health system barriers to and facilitators of NPHW care were reviewed.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Assessment of study eligibility was performed by 1 reviewer and rechecked by another. The 2 reviewers extracted all data. Reviews were performed from November 2017 to July 2018. All analyses were descriptive.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

All barriers and facilitators mentioned in all studies were tallied and sorted according to the World Health Organization's 6 building blocks for health systems.

RESULTS

This systematic review and qualitative analysis identified 15 review articles, which cited 156 studies, of which 71 referenced barriers to and facilitators of care. The results suggest 6 key lessons: (1) select qualified NPHWs embedded within the community they serve; (2) provide detailed, ongoing training and supervision; (3) authorize NPHWs to prescribe medication and render autonomous care; (4) equip NPHWs with reliable systems to track patient data; (5) furnish NPHWs consistently with medications and supplies; and (6) compensate NPHWs adequately commensurate with their roles.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although the health system barriers to NPHW screening, treatment, and control of NCDs and their risk factors are numerous and complex, a diverse set of care models has demonstrated strategies to address nearly all of these challenges. These facilitating approaches-which relate chiefly to strong, consistent NPHW training, guidance, and logistical support-generate a blueprint for the creation and scale-up of such programs adaptable across multiple chronic diseases, including in high-income countries.

Introduction of a national program for HbA1c testing in Guyana South America and initial results

Diabetes is an increasing challenge for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and access to HbA1c testing is limited. HbA1c, a measure of glycaemic control averaged over 3 months, provides both clinicians and policymakers with a tool to identify the risk of long-term diabetes comorbidity. We describe the steps used to implement standardised testing in Guyana South America and the initial results according to a locally developed protocol as part of a country-wide project to improve the care of people with all forms of diabetes The steps identified include: a standardised method traceable to a recognized international reference standard, participation in a quality control cycle with an international reference laboratory, a clinical pathway for testing to reduce inappropriate use and minimize resource wastage, training of technicians in operation and maintenance of equipment, identification of a suitable space with constant power supply, a reliable procurement system, education of healthcare professionals on interpretation and follow-up of results and feedback of programme results to improve clinical practice. Some steps for implementation of the national HbA1c testing program were initiated better than others. Initial unreliability of the service undermined confidence in the system. Failure to follow the testing protocol led to some patients being tested too soon and others too late. Cost of reagents was about 5.60 USD/test. We trained 340 people in diabetes care and knowledge was improved but were unable to assess whether it was appropriately applied. Over one third of people tested in the 30-70 age group had an HbA1c over 9% (75 mmol/mol) and this did not improve over the 5 years of testing. Despite the difficulties we think our unique experience of implementation of a nationwide HbA1c testing programme has important lessons for other LMICs.

Interventions targeting hypertension and diabetes mellitus at community and primary healthcare level in low- and middle-income countries:a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence on effectiveness of primary care interventions has attracted renewed calls for their implementation. This review aims to synthesize evidence pertaining to primary care interventions on these two diseases, evaluated and tested in LMICs.

METHODS

Two reviewers conducted an electronic search of three databases (Pubmed, EMBASE and Web of Science) and screened for eligible articles. Interventions covering health promotion, prevention, treatment, or rehabilitation activities at the PHC or community level were included. Studies published in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, from January 2007 to January 2017, were included. Key extraction variables included the 12 criteria identified by the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist and guide. The Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions Framework (ICCCF) was used to guide analysis and reporting of results.

RESULTS

198 articles were analyzed. The strategies focused on healthcare service organization (76.5%), community level (9.7 %), creating a positive policy environment (3.6%) and strategies covering multiple domains (10.2%). Studies included related to the following topics: description or testing of interventions (n=81; 41.3%), implementation or evaluation projects (n=42; 21.4%), quality improvement initiatives (n=15; 7.7%), screening and prevention efforts (n=26; 13.2%), management of HTN or DM (n=13; 6.6%), integrated health services (n=10; 5.1%), knowledge and attitude surveys (n=5; 2.5%), cost-effective lab tests (n=2; 1%) and policy making efforts (n=2; 1%). Most studies reported interventions by non-specialists (n=86; 43.4%) and multidisciplinary teams (n=49; 25.5%).

CONCLUSION

Only 198 articles were found over a 10 year period which demonstrates the limited published research on highly prevalent diseases in LMIC. This review shows the variety and complexity of approaches that have been tested to address HTN and DM in LMICs and highlights the elements of interventions needed to be addressed in order to strengthen delivery of care. Most studies reported little information regarding implementation processes to allow replication. Given the need for multi-component complex interventions, study designs and evaluation techniques will need to be adapted by including process evaluations versus simply effectiveness or outcome evaluations.

Task sharing with non-physician health-care workers for management of blood pressure in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Task sharing for the management of hypertension could be useful for understaffed and resource-poor health systems. We assessed the effectiveness of task-sharing interventions in improving blood pressure control among adults in low-income and middle-income countries.

METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL for studies published up to December 2018. We included intervention studies involving a task-sharing strategy for management of blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors. We extracted data on population, interventions, blood pressure, and task sharing groups. We did a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

FINDINGS

We found 3012 references, of which 54 met the inclusion criteria initially. Another nine studies were included following an updated search. There were 43 trials and 20 before-and-after studies. We included 31 studies in our meta-analysis. Systolic blood pressure was decreased through task sharing in different groups of health-care workers: the mean difference was -5·34 mm Hg (95% CI -9·00 to -1·67, I2=84%) for task sharing with nurses, -8·12 mm Hg (-10·23 to -6·01, I2=57%) for pharmacists, -4·67 mm Hg (-7·09 to -2·24, I2=0%) for dietitians, -3·67 mm Hg (-4·58 to -2·77, I2=24%) for community health workers, and -4·85 mm Hg (-6·12 to -3·57, I2=76%) overall. We found a similar reduction in diastolic blood pressure (overall mean difference -2·92 mm Hg, -3·75 to -2·09, I2=80%). The overall quality of evidence based on GRADE criteria was moderate for systolic blood pressure, but low for diastolic blood pressure.

INTERPRETATION

Task-sharing interventions are effective in reducing blood pressure. Long-term studies are needed to understand their potential impact on cardiovascular outcomes and mortality.

FUNDING

Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance.

Pharmacy-based hypertension care employing mHealth in Lagos, Nigeria - a mixed methods feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Access to quality hypertension care is often poor in sub-Saharan Africa. Some community pharmacies offer hypertension monitoring services, with and without involvement of medical doctors. To directly connect pharmacy staff and cardiologists a care model including a mobile application (mHealth) for remote patient monitoring was implemented and pilot tested in Lagos, Nigeria. Pharmacists provided blood pressure measurements and counselling. Cardiologists enrolled patients in the pilot program and remotely monitored them, for which patients paid a monthly fee. We evaluated the feasibility of this care model at five private community pharmacies. Outcome measures were retention in care, blood pressure change, quality of care, and patients' and healthcare providers' satisfaction with the care model.

METHODS

Patients participated in the care model's pilot at one of the five pharmacies for approximately 6-8 months from February 2016. We conducted structured patient interviews and blood pressure measurements at pilot entry and exit, and used exports of the mHealth-application, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with patients, pharmacists and cardiologists.

RESULTS

Of 336 enrolled patients, 236 (72%) were interviewed at pilot entry and exit. According to the mHealth data 71% returned to the pharmacy after enrollment, with 3.3 months (IQR: 2.2-5.4) median duration of activity in the mHealth-application. Patients self-reported more visits than recorded in the mHealth data. Pharmacists mentioned use of paper records, understaffing, the application not being user-friendly, and patients' unwillingness to pay as reasons for underreporting. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased 9.9 mmHg (SD: 18). Blood pressure on target increased from 24 to 56% and an additional 10% had an improved blood pressure at endline, however this was not associated with duration of mHealth activity. Patients were satisfied because of accessibility, attention, adherence and information provision.

CONCLUSION

Patients, pharmacists and cardiologists adopted the care model, albeit with gaps in mHealth data. Most patients were satisfied, and their mean blood pressure significantly reduced. Usage of the mHealth application, pharmacy incentives, and a modified financing model are opportunities for improvement. In addition, costs of implementation and availability of involved healthcare providers need to be investigated before such a care model can be further implemented.

Assessing the readiness of health facilities for diabetes and cardiovascular services in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities for diabetes and cardiovascular services in Bangladesh.

DESIGN

This study was a cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

This study used data from a nationwide Bangladesh Health Facility Survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 319 health facilities delivering services focused on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) were included in the survey. Some of these facilities were run by the public sector while others were managed by the private sector and non-governmental organisations. It was a mix of primary and secondary care facilities.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was readiness of health facilities for diabetes and cardiovascular services. We analysed relevant data following the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment manual of the WHO to assess the readiness of selected health facilities towards services for diabetes and CVD.

RESULTS

58% and 24.1% of the facilities had diagnosis and treatment services for diabetes and CVD, respectively. Shortage of trained staff (18.8% and 14.7%) and lack of adequate medicine supply (23.5% and 43.9%) were identified to be factors responsible for inadequate services for diabetes and CVD. Among the facilities that offer services for diabetes and CVD, only 0.4% and 0.9% had all the four service readiness factors (guideline, trained staff, equipment and medicine).

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that health facilities suffered from numerous drawbacks, such as shortage of trained staff and required medicine. Most importantly, they lack effective guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment for diabetes and CVD. It is, therefore, essential now to ensure that there are trained staff, adequate medicine supply, and appropriate guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment for diabetes and CVD in Bangladesh.

Community-based intervention for management of diabetes in Nepal (COBIN-D trial): study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background

Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest emerging chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Population-based approaches, such as involvement of lay health workers offering culturally appropriate diabetes health promotion, may be the blueprint for the management of type 2 diabetes. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a family-based home health education intervention on type 2 diabetes provided by female community health volunteers (FCHVs) in a semi-urban area of Lekhnath Municipality of Nepal.

Methods

The COmmunity-Based INtervention for management of Diabetes in Nepal (COBIN-D) trial is a community-based, open-label, two-armed, cluster-randomized trial with seven randomly selected intervention and seven wait-list control clusters. A total of 112 subjects with type 2 diabetes will be recruited from the intervention clusters and 112 subjects from the wait-list control clusters. Based on the Health Belief Model and Social Support Theory, a 12-month family-based lifestyle intervention will be administered through FCHVs. Wait-list control clusters will continue to manage their glycemic condition as usual and their intervention will be delayed for 12 months. Participants will be measured at the beginning of the study and 12 months later. The primary outcome measure of the study will be difference in mean change (from baseline to 1 year) in fasting blood glucose between the two study arms. Impacts will be estimated using intention-to-treat analysis.

Discussion

The COBIN-D is the first study investigating the effect of family-based home health education and screening on blood sugar levels in adults by FCHVs at community level in Nepal. The perspective of this study is to develop and implement, in collaboration with the community, a community-based, culturally sensitive diabetes prevention and control program. It is anticipated that the study can act as a feasible and affordable tool for evidence-based integrated care for improvement of diabetes management and outcomes in Nepal as well as in other low- and middle-income countries.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03304158. Registered retrospectively on 03 October 2017.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-018-2954-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Assessing the influence of health systems on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus awareness, treatment, adherence, and control: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is reported to affect one in 11 adults worldwide, with over 80% of T2DM patients residing in low-to-middle-income countries. Health systems play an integral role in responding to this increasing global prevalence, and are key to ensuring effective diabetes management. We conducted a systematic review to examine the health system-level factors influencing T2DM awareness, treatment, adherence, and control.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

A protocol for this study was published on the PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO 2016: CRD42016048185). Studies included in this review reported the effects of health systems factors, interventions, policies, or programmes on T2DM control, awareness, treatment, and adherence. The following databases were searched on 22 February 2017: Medline, Embase, Global health, LILACS, Africa-Wide, IMSEAR, IMEMR, and WPRIM. There were no restrictions on date, language, or study designs. Two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility, extracted the data, and screened for risk of bias. Thereafter, we performed a narrative synthesis. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to methodological heterogeneity across different aspects of included studies. 93 studies were included for qualitative synthesis; 7 were conducted in LMICs. Through this review, we found two key health system barriers to effective T2DM care and management: financial constraints faced by the patient and limited access to health services and medication. We also found three health system factors that facilitate effective T2DM care and management: the use of innovative care models, increased pharmacist involvement in care delivery, and education programmes led by healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSIONS

This review points to the importance of reducing, or possibly eliminating, out-of-pocket costs for diabetes medication and self-monitoring supplies. It also points to the potential of adopting more innovative and integrated models of care, and the value of task-sharing of care with pharmacists. More studies which identify the effect of health system arrangements on various outcomes, particularly awareness, are needed.

Readiness of Sub-Saharan Africa Healthcare Systems for the New Pandemic, Diabetes: A Systematic Review

Background

Effective health systems are needed to care for the coming surge of diabetics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Objective

We conducted a systematic review of literature to determine the capacity of SSA health systems to manage diabetes.

Methodology

We used three different databases (Embase, Scopus, and PubMed) to search for studies, published from 2004 to 2017, on diabetes care in SSA.

Results

Fifty-five articles met the inclusion criteria, covering the different aspects related to diabetes care such as availability of drugs and diagnostic tools, the capacity of healthcare workers, and the integration of diabetes care into HIV and TB platforms.

Conclusion

Although chronic care health systems in SSA have developed significantly in the last decade, the capacity for managing diabetes remains in its infancy. We identified pilot projects to enhance these capacities. The scale-up of these pilot interventions and the integration of diabetes care into existing robust chronic disease platforms may be a feasible approach to begin to tackle the upcoming pandemic in diabetes. Nonetheless, much more work needs to be done to address the health system-wide deficiencies in diabetes care. More research is also needed to determine how to integrate diabetes care into the healthcare system in SSA.

Short-term pilot feasibility study of a nurse-led intervention to improve blood pressure control after stroke in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Given the paucity of neurologists in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), task-shifting post-stroke care to nurses could be a viable avenue for enhancing post-stroke outcomes. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and short-term impact of a nurse-led intervention to manage blood pressure (BP) control in recent stroke survivors in Nigeria.

METHODS

A randomized pilot trial allocated patients within one month of an index stroke from two participating hospitals in Nigeria to either nurse-led group clinic or standard care for 14days. Key study endpoints were successful execution of the protocol, subject retention, and short-term BP effects.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the intervention (n=17) and control (n=18) groups at baseline. At the post-intervention clinic, patient retention rate was 100%. In the intervention group, both the systolic and diastolic BPs measured at home were lower than the clinic BPs post-intervention (127±12.88/78.13±19.26mmHg versus 137.50±23.05/84.06±9.67mmHg; p=0.05). However, there was no significant change in clinic blood pressure (BP) recordings in both the intervention and control groups.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to initiate a nurse-led group clinic intervention to address BP management among stroke survivors in SSA with good early retention of participants. A larger and longer-term trial is being planned.

Implementation and Outcomes of a Comprehensive Type 2 Diabetes Program in Rural Guatemala

Background

The burden of chronic, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes is growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. Implementing management programs for diabetes and other chronic diseases for underserved populations is thus a critical global health priority. However, there is a notable dearth of shared programmatic and outcomes data from diabetes treatment programs in these settings.

Program Description

We describe our experiences as a non-governmental organization designing and implementing a type 2 diabetes program serving Maya indigenous people in rural Guatemala. We detail the practical challenges and solutions we have developed to build and sustain diabetes programming in this setting.

Methods

We conduct a retrospective chart review from our electronic medical record to evaluate our program’s performance. We generate a cohort profile, assess cross-sectional indicators using a framework adapted from the literature, and report on clinical longitudinal outcomes.

Results

A total of 142 patients were identified for the chart review. The cohort showed a decrease in hemoglobin A1C from a mean of 9.2% to 8.1% over an average of 2.1 years of follow-up (p <0.001). The proportions of patients meeting glycemic targets were 53% for hemoglobin A1C < 8% and 32% for the stricter target of hemoglobin A1C < 7%.

Conclusion

We first offer programmatic experiences to address a gap in resources relating to the practical issues of designing and implementing global diabetes management interventions. We then present clinical data suggesting that favorable diabetes outcomes can be attained in poor areas of rural Guatemala.

Evidence based review of type 2 diabetes prevention and management in low and middle income countries

AIM: To identify the newest approaches to type 2 diabetes (T2DM) prevention and control in the developing world context.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of published studies of diabetes prevention and control programs in low and middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank. We searched PubMed using Medical Subject Headings terms. Studies needed to satisfy four criteria: (1) Must be experimental; (2) Must include patients with T2DM or focusing on prevention of T2DM; (3) Must have a lifestyle intervention component; (4) Must be written in English; and (5) Must have measurable outcomes related to diabetes.

RESULTS: A total of 66 studies from 20 developing countries were gathered with publication dates through September 2014. India contributed the largest number of trials (11/66). Of the total 66 studies reviewed, all but 3 studies reported evidence of favorable outcomes in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes. The overwhelming majority of studies reported on diabetes management (56/66), and among these more than half were structured lifestyle education programs. The evidence suggests that lifestyle education led by allied health professionals (nurses, pharmacists) were as effective as those led by physicians or a team of clinicians. The remaining diabetes management interventions focused on diet or exercise, but the evidence to recommend one approach over another was weak.

CONCLUSION: Large experimental diabetes prevention/control studies of dietary and exercise interventions are lacking particularly those that consider quality rather than quantity of carbohydrates and alternative exercise.

Evaluation of care access and hypertension control in a community health worker driven non-communicable disease programme in rural Uganda: the chronic disease in the community project

The burden of non-communicable diseases continues to grow throughout the developing world. Health systems in low- and middle-income regions face significant human resource shortages, which limit the ability to meet the growing need for non-communicable disease care. Specially trained community health workers may be useful in filling that provider gap. This study aimed to evaluate consistency of access to care and quality of hypertension control in a community health worker led, decentralized non-communicable disease programme operating in rural Uganda. Days between clinical evaluations and average systolic blood pressure were described for programme patients; these markers were also compared with patients seen in a central, hospital-based clinic. In 2013, community health worker programme patients were seen every 35.6 days and significantly more often than clinic patients (50.8 days, P < 0.001). From October to December 2013, hypertensive patients in the community health worker programme had a mean systolic blood pressure of 147.8 mmHg. This was lower than the average systolic pressure of clinic patients (156.7 mmHg, P < 0.001). Programme patients' blood pressures were also more frequently measured at below goal than clinic patients (71.2 vs 59.8%, P = 0.048). Decentralizing care and shifting significant clinical management responsibilities to community health workers improved consistency of access to care and did not come with a demonstrable cost in quality of hypertension control. Community health workers may have the potential to bridge the provider gap in low-income nations, providing expanded non-communicable disease care.

Preparedness of Tanzanian health facilities for outpatient primary care of hypertension and diabetes: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Historically, health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa have mainly managed acute, infectious diseases. Few data exist for the preparedness of African health facilities to handle the growing epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We assessed the burden of NCDs in health facilities in northwestern Tanzania and investigated the strengths of the health system and areas for improvement with regard to primary care management of selected NCDs.

Methods

Between November, 2012, and May, 2013, we undertook a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 24 public and not-for-profit health facilities in urban and rural Tanzania (four hospitals, eight health centres, and 12 dispensaries). We did structured interviews of facility managers, inspected resources, and administered self-completed questionnaires to 335 health-care workers. We focused on hypertension, diabetes, and HIV (for comparison). Our key study outcomes related to service provision, availability of guidelines and supplies, management and training systems, and preparedness of human resources.

Findings

Of adult outpatient visits to hospitals, 58% were for chronic diseases compared with 20% at health centres, and 13% at dispensaries. In many facilities, guidelines, diagnostic equipment, and first-line drug therapy for the primary care of NCDs were inadequate, and management, training, and reporting systems were weak. Services for HIV accounted for most chronic disease visits and seemed stronger than did services for NCDs. Ten (42%) facilities had guidelines for HIV whereas three (13%) facilities did for NCDs. 261 (78%) health workers showed fair knowledge of HIV, whereas 198 (59%) did for hypertension and 187 (56%) did for diabetes. Generally, health systems were weaker in lower-level facilities. Front-line health-care workers (such as non-medical-doctor clinicians and nurses) did not have knowledge and experience of NCDs. For example, only 74 (49%) of 150 nurses had at least fair knowledge of diabetes care compared with 85 (57%) of 150 for hyptertension and 119 (79%) of 150 for HIV, and only 31 (21%) of 150 had seen more than five patients with diabetes in the past 3 months compared with 50 (33%) of 150 for hypertension and 111 (74%) of 150 for HIV.

Interpretation

Most outpatient services for NCDs in Tanzania are provided at hospitals, despite present policies stating that health centres and dispensaries should provide such services. We identified crucial weaknesses (and strengths) in health systems that should be considered to improve primary care for NCDs in Africa and identified ways that HIV programmes could serve as a model and structural platform for these improvements.

Funding

UK Medical Research Council.

Content, participants and outcomes of three diabetes care programmes in three low and middle income countries

AIMS

To improve access and quality of diabetes care for people in low-income countries, it is important to understand which elements of diabetes care are effective. This paper analyses three diabetes care programmes in the DR Congo, Cambodia and the Philippines.

METHODS

Three programmes offering diabetes care and self-management were selected. Programme information was collected through document review and interviews. Data about participants' characteristics, health outcomes, care utilisation, expenditures, care perception and self-management were extracted from a study database. Comparative univariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Kin-réseau (DR Congo) is an urban primary care network with 8000 patients. MoPoTsyo (Cambodia) is a community-based peer educator network, covering 7000 patients. FiLDCare (Philippines) is a programme in which 1000 patients receive care in a health facility and self-management support from a community health worker. Content of care of the programmes is comparable, the focus on self-management largest in MoPoTsyo. On average, Kin-réseau patients have a higher age, longer diabetes history and more overweight. MoPoTsyo includes most female, most illiterate and most lean patients. Health outcomes (HbA1C level, systolic blood pressure, diabetes foot lesions) were most favourable for MoPoTsyo patients. Diabetes-related health care expenditure was highest for FiLDCare patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows it possible to maintain a diabetes programme with minimal external resources, offering care and self-management support. It also illustrates that health outcomes of persons with diabetes are determined by their bio-psycho-social characteristics and behaviour, which are each subject to the content of care and the approach to chronic illness and self-management of the programme, in turn influenced by the larger context.

Diabetes care and complications in primary care in the Tshwane district of South Africa

AIMS

To describe the diabetic population receiving primary care from the Tshwane district public health services and to assess the quality of care of members of this population, their level of disease control and the extent of their complications.

METHODS

A cluster-randomised trial was conducted in 12 primary care clinics in Tshwane district. A total of 599 diabetic patients attending these clinics for review were consecutively interviewed and clinically examined. Data on the care received was also obtained from their clinical records for the previous 12 months. Patients randomised to the active arm of the study were screened for complications.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58 years and 80.5% had a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m(2). Sixty-eight percent of patients were female. Acceptable glycaemic control and LDL-cholesterol were found for only 27% and 33% of patients, respectively (HbA1c<7%; LDL<2.5 mmol/l). Despite more than 79% of patients reporting to be hypertensive, 68% of patients had a systolic blood pressure above 130 mmHg and 64% had a diastolic blood pressure above 80 mmHg. Evaluating patient records of the preceding year, screening for eye complications was only reported in 8.2%, feet complications in 6.5%, kidney complications in 21.4% and cardiovascular complications in 7.8%. The screening prevalences found were 29% for retinopathy, 22% for maculopathy, 5% for neuropathy (neurothesiometer), 7% for nephropathy (eGFR stages 3-5), 17% for possible infarction (Rose questionnaire) and 36% for severe erectile dysfunction (SHIM questionnaire).

CONCLUSION

Diabetes care and screening for complications at primary care level in the Tshwane district were found to be sub-optimal. Measures should be taken to address this.

The impact of health systems on diabetes care in low and lower middle income countries

This review will highlight the current challenges and barriers to diabetes management in low and lower middle income countries using the World Health Organization's 6 Building Blocks for Health Systems (service delivery; healthcare workforce; information; medical products, vaccines and technologies; financing; and leadership and governance). Low and lower middle income countries are characterized by low levels of income and insufficient health expenditure. These countries face a shift in disease burden from communicable to non-communicable diseases including diabetes. Many argue that health systems in these countries do not have the capacity to meet the needs of people with chronic conditions such as diabetes. A variety of barriers exist in terms of organization of health systems and care, human resources, sufficient information for decision-making, availability and affordability of medicines, policies, and alleviating the financial burden of care. These health system barriers need to be addressed, taking into account the need to have diabetes included in the global development agenda and also tailoring the response to local contexts including the needs of people with diabetes.

Tackling the growing diabetes burden in Sub-Saharan Africa: a framework for enhancing outcomes in stroke patients

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of worldwide diabetes (DM)-related deaths presently occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), and left unchecked these DM-related deaths will likely double over the next 20 years. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prevalent and detrimental complication of DM: doubling the risk of CVD events (including stroke) and accounting for up to 80% of DM-related deaths. Given the aforementioned, interventions targeted at reducing CVD risk among people with DM are integral to limiting DM-related morbidity and mortality in LMIC, a majority of which are located in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, SSA is contextually unique: socioeconomic obstacles, cultural barriers, under-diagnosis, uncoordinated care, and shortage of physicians currently limit the capacity of SSA countries to implement CVD prevention among people with DM in a timely and sustainable manner. This article proposes a theory-based framework for conceptualizing integrated protocol-driven risk factor patient self-management interventions that could be adopted or adapted in future studies among hospitalized stroke patients with DM encountered in SSA. These interventions include systematic health education at hospital discharge, use of post-discharge trained community lay navigators, implementation of nurse-led group clinics and administration of health technology (personalized phone text messaging and home tele-monitoring), all aimed at increasing patient self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation for sustained adherence to therapies proven to reduce CVD event risk.

Task shifting for non-communicable disease management in low and middle income countries--a systematic review

BACKGROUND

One potential solution to limited healthcare access in low and middle income countries (LMIC) is task-shifting- the training of non-physician healthcare workers (NPHWs) to perform tasks traditionally undertaken by physicians. The aim of this paper is to conduct a systematic review of studies involving task-shifting for the management of non-communicable disease (NCD) in LMIC.

METHODS

A search strategy with the following terms "task-shifting", "non-physician healthcare workers", "community healthcare worker", "hypertension", "diabetes", "cardiovascular disease", "mental health", "depression", "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease", "respiratory disease", "cancer" was conducted using Medline via Pubmed and the Cochrane library. Two reviewers independently reviewed the databases and extracted the data.

FINDINGS

Our search generated 7176 articles of which 22 were included in the review. Seven studies were randomised controlled trials and 15 were observational studies. Tasks performed by NPHWs included screening for NCDs and providing primary health care. The majority of studies showed improved health outcomes when compared with usual healthcare, including reductions in blood pressure, increased uptake of medications and lower depression scores. Factors such as training of NPHWs, provision of algorithms and protocols for screening, treatment and drug titration were the main enablers of the task-shifting intervention. The main barriers identified were restrictions on prescribing medications and availability of medicines. Only two studies described cost-effective analyses, both of which demonstrated that task-shifting was cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS

Task-shifting from physicians to NPHWs, if accompanied by health system re-structuring is a potentially effective and affordable strategy for improving access to healthcare for NCDs. Since the majority of study designs reviewed were of inadequate quality, future research methods should include robust evaluations of such strategies.

Diabetes and Culture

Diabetes and its many manifestations articulate well with the four-field approach in anthropology, providing an almost seamless example of the relationship between human biology, behavior, society, and culture in both the past and the present tense. In general, publications on diabetes and culture echo Enlightenment philosophies on change and progress that posit the increasing prevalence of diabetes as a “crisis in human relations” ( Bendix 1967 , p. 302) for which culture plays a significant role. The undermining of racial approaches due to what now appears to be diabetes-without-borders has also directed anthropological research into the contingent temporal frameworks of history. The recent attention to society and the social production of the disease may portend the end of culture in research on diabetes and culture.

Prevalence and determinants of undiagnosed diabetes in an urban sub-Saharan African population

AIMS

To report the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and its determinants among adults Cameroonian urban dwellers.

METHODS

On May 17th 2011, a community-based combined screening for diabetes and hypertension was conducted simultaneously in four major Cameroonian cities. Adult participants were invited through mass media. Fasting blood glucose was measured in capillary blood.

RESULTS

Of the 2120 respondents, 1591 (52% being men) received a fasting glucose test. The median age was 43.7 years, and 64.2% were overweight or obese. The sex-specific age adjusted prevalence (for men and women) were 10.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.1-12.1%) and 11.2% (95%CI: 9.1-13.3%) for any diabetes, and 4.6% (95%CI: 2.6-6.6%) and 5.1% (95%CI: 3.0-7.2%) for screened-detected diabetes, respectively. The prevalence of diabetes increased with increasing age in men and women (all p ≤ 0.001 for linear trend). Older age (p<0.001), region of residence (p<0.001), excessive alcohol intake (p=0.02) were significantly associated with screened-detected diabetes, while physical inactivity, body mass index, and high waist girth were not significantly associated with the same outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes is very high among Cameroonian urban dwellers, indicating a potentially huge impact of screening for diabetes, thus the need for more proactive policies of early detection of the disease.

Strengthening Health Systems for Chronic Care: Leveraging HIV Programs to Support Diabetes Services in Ethiopia and Swaziland

The scale-up of HIV services in sub-Saharan Africa has catalyzed the development of highly effective chronic care systems. The strategies, systems, and tools developed to support life-long HIV care and treatment are locally owned contextually appropriate resources, many of which could be adapted to support continuity care for noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCD), such as diabetes mellitus (DM). We conducted two proof-of-concept studies to further the understanding of the status of NCD programs and the feasibility and effectiveness of adapting HIV program-related tools and systems for patients with DM. In Swaziland, a rapid assessment illustrated gaps in the approaches used to support DM services at 15 health facilities, despite the existence of chronic care systems at HIV clinics in the same hospitals, health centers, and clinics. In Ethiopia, a pilot study found similar gaps in DM services at baseline and illustrated the potential to rapidly improve the quality of care and treatment for DM by adapting HIV-specific policies, systems, and tools.

Chronic noncommunicable diseases and HIV-AIDS on a collision course: relevance for health care delivery, particularly in low-resource settings--insights from South Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a multiple disease burden. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are emerging, and their risk factors are becoming more common as lifestyles change and rates of urbanization increase. Simultaneously, epidemics of infectious diseases persist, and HIV/AIDS has taken hold in the region, although recent data indicate a decrease in new HIV infection rates. With the use of diabetes as a marker for NCDs, it was estimated that the number of people with diabetes would rise between 2000 and 2010 despite the HIV/AIDS epidemic, largely because of the aging of the population and the increase in risk factors for diabetes in South Africa. These numbers are likely to increase further, given the declining HIV/AIDS mortality rates and longer life expectancy due to the up-scaling of antiretroviral therapy (ART), with its concomitant metabolic complications. Given that treated HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease, and the health care needs of people on ART resemble those of people with NCDs, and given that vertical programs are difficult to sustain when health systems are underresourced and strained, there is a powerful argument to integrate the primary level care for people with chronic diseases, whether they be NCDs or infectious diseases. Pilot studies are required to test the feasibility of an integrated service that extends from health facilities into the community in a reciprocal manner based on the WHO Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions model of care. These will begin to provide the evidence that policy makers need to change the mode of health care delivery.

Chronic non-communicable diseases in Cameroon - burden, determinants and current policies

Cameroon is experiencing an increase in the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which accounted for 43% of all deaths in 2002. This article reviews the published literature to critically evaluate the evidence on the frequency, determinants and consequences of NCDs in Cameroon, and to identify research, intervention and policy gaps. The rising trends in NCDs have been documented for hypertension and diabetes, with a 2-5 and a 10-fold increase in their respective prevalence between 1994 and 2003. Magnitudes are much higher in urban settings, where increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity (by 54-82%) was observed over the same period. These changes largely result from the adoption of unfavorable eating habits, physical inactivity, and a probable increasing tobacco use. These behavioral changes are driven by the economic development and social mobility, which are part of the epidemiologic transition. There is still a dearth of information on chronic respiratory diseases and cancers, as well as on all NDCs and related risk factors in children and adolescents. More nationally representative data is needed to tract risk factors and consequences of NCDs. These conditions are increasingly been recognized as a priority, mainly through locally generated evidence. Thus, national-level prevention and control programs for chronic diseases (mainly diabetes and hypertension) have been established. However, the monitoring and evaluation of these programs is necessary. Budgetary allocations data by the ministry of health would be helpful, to evaluate the investment in NCDs prevention and control. Establishing more effective national-level tobacco control measures and food policies, as well as campaigns to promote healthy diets, physical activity and tobacco cessation would probably contribute to reducing the burden of NCDs.

Improved retention rates with low-cost interventions in hypertension and diabetes management in a rural African environment of nurse-led care: a cluster-randomised trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of low-level facility-based interventions on patient retention rates for cardiovascular (CV) disease in an environment of task shifting and nurse-led care in rural health districts in Central Cameroon.

METHODS

This study is an open-label, three-arm, cluster-randomised trial in nurse-led facilities. All three groups implemented a treatment contract. The control group (group 1) had no additional intervention, group 2 received the incentive of 1 month of free treatment every forth month of regularly respected visits, and group 3 received reminder letters in case of a missed follow-up visit. The primary outcome was patient retention at 1 year. Secondary outcomes were adherence to follow-up visit schemes and changes in blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose levels. Patients' monthly spending for drugs and transport was calculated retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 33 centres and 221 patients were included. After 1 year, 109 patients (49.3%) remained in the programme. Retention rates in groups 2 and 3 were 60% and 65%, respectively, against 29% in the control group. The differences between the intervention groups and the control group were significant (P < 0.001), but differences between the two intervention groups were not (P = 0.719). There were no significant differences in BP or fasting plasma glucose trends between retained patients in the study groups. Average monthly cost to patients for antihypertensive medication was € 1.1 ± 0.9 and for diabetics €1.2 ± 1.1. Transport costs to the centres were on average €1.1 ± 1.0 for hypertensive patients and €1.1 ± 1.6 for patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-cost interventions suited to an environment of task shifting and nurse-led care and needing minimal additional resources can significantly improve retention rates in CV disease management in rural Africa. The combination of a treatment contract and reminder letters in case of missed appointments was an effective measure to retain patients in care.

The evolution of diabetes care in the rural, resource-constrained setting of western Kenya

BACKGROUND

The initial focused effort on addressing the HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa has helped set the groundwork for addressing many of the other areas of the health-care system requiring support in resource-constrained settings. With the growing prevalence of diabetes in this setting, the US Agency for International Development-Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Partnership (USAID-AMPATH) has begun developing infrastructure to meet the growing need for diabetes care.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the evolution of diabetes care in the rural, resource-constrained setting of western Kenya and to analyze preliminary data on the current status of glucose control of patients.

METHODS

Through partnerships, USAID-AMPATH has facilitated the provision of basic modalities of diabetes care, including reliable stocks of insulin, hemoglobin A(1c) (A1C) testing, and point-of-care glucose-testing supplies.

RESULTS

Through the introduction of A1C testing, the poor quality of diabetes care was revealed, as the average A1C for the clinic population was 10.4%, with insulin-dependent patients constituting the majority of individuals with markedly elevated A1C levels. To address this, a contextualized electronic medical record and a cell phone-based home glucose monitoring program were created to improve glycemic control, which has led to significant reductions in A1C levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Through the inclusion of clinical data within the electronic medical record, there is an ongoing effort to research various aspects of diabetes care in this understudied population, with the goal of addressing many of the unanswered questions surrounding diabetes care in sub-Saharan Africa. The lessons learned from this pilot program will be used to create sustainable infrastructure for diabetes care in partnership with the Kenyan government and will serve as a model for similar programs.

Cardiovascular disease prevention in rural Nigeria in the context of a community based health insurance scheme: QUality Improvement Cardiovascular care Kwara-I (QUICK-I)

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading contributor to the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries. Guidelines for CVD prevention care in low resource settings have been developed but little information is available on strategies to implement this care. A community health insurance program might be used to improve patients' access to care. The operational research project "QUality Improvement Cardiovascular care Kwara - I (QUICK-I)" aims to assess the feasibility of CVD prevention care in rural Nigeria, according to international guidelines, in the context of a community based health insurance scheme.

Methods/Design

Design: prospective observational hospital based cohort study.

Setting: a primary health care centre in rural Nigeria.

Study population: 300 patients at risk for development of CVD (patients with hypertension, diabetes, renal disease or established CVD) who are enrolled in the Hygeia Community Health Plan.

Measurements: demographic and socio- economic data, physical and laboratory examination, CVD risk profile including screening for target organ damage. Measurements will be done at 3 month intervals during 1 year. Direct and indirect costs of CVD prevention care will be estimated.

Outcomes: 1) The adjusted cardiovascular quality of care indicator scores based on the "United Kingdom National Health Services Quality and Outcome Framework". 2) The average costs of CVD prevention and treatment per patient per year for patients, the clinic and the insurance company. 3) The estimated net health care costs of standard CVD prevention care per quality-adjusted life year gained.

Analysis: The primary outcomes, the score on CVD quality indicators and cost data will be descriptive. The quality scores and cost data will be used to describe the feasibility of CVD prevention care according to international guidelines. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be done using a Markov model.

Discussion

Results of QUICK-I can be used by policy makers and professionals who aim to implement CVD prevention programs in settings with limited resources. The context of the insurance program will provide insight in the opportunities community health insurance may offer to attain sustainable chronic disease management programs in low resource settings.

Trial registration

This protocol has been registered at ISRCTN, ID number: ISRCTN47894401.

Task shifting to non-physician clinicians for integrated management of hypertension and diabetes in rural Cameroon: a programme assessment at two years

BACKGROUND

The burden of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, increases in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the majority of the rural population does still not have access to adequate care. The objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of integrating care for hypertension and type 2 diabetes by task shifting to non-physician clinician (NPC) facilities in eight rural health districts in Cameroon.

METHODS

Of the 75 NPC facilities in the area, 69 (87%) received basic equipment and training in hypertension and diabetes care. Effectiveness was assessed after two years on status of equipment, knowledge among trained NPCs, number of newly detected patients, retention of patients under care, treatment cost to patients and changes in blood pressure (BP) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) among treated patients.

RESULTS

Two years into the programme, of 54 facilities (78%) available for re-assessment, all possessed a functional sphygmomanometer and stethoscope (65% at baseline); 96% stocked antihypertensive drugs (27% at baseline); 70% possessed a functional glucose meter and 72% stocked oral anti-diabetics (15% and 12% at baseline). NPCs' performance on multiple-choice questions of the knowledge-test was significantly improved. During a period of two years, trained NPCs initiated treatment for 796 patients with hypertension and/or diabetes. The retention of treated patients at one year was 18.1%. Hypertensive and diabetic patients paid a median monthly amount of 1.4 and 0.7 Euro respectively for their medication. Among hypertensive patients with ≥ 2 documented visits (n = 493), systolic BP decreased by 22.8 mmHg (95% CI: -20.6 to -24.9; p < 0.0001) and diastolic BP by 12.4 mmHg (-10.9 to -13.9; p < 0.0001). Among diabetic patients (n = 79) FPG decreased by 3.4 mmol/l (-2.3 to -4.5; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The integration of hypertension and diabetes into primary health care of NPC facilities in rural Cameroon was feasible in terms of equipment and training, accessible in terms of treatment cost and showed promising BP- and FPG-trends. However, low case-detection rates per NPC and a very high attrition among patients enrolled into care, limited the effectiveness of the programme.

Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa, prevalence and burden of type 2 diabetes are rising quickly. Rapid uncontrolled urbanisation and major changes in lifestyle could be driving this epidemic. The increase presents a substantial public health and socioeconomic burden in the face of scarce resources. Some types of diabetes arise at younger ages in African than in European populations. Ketosis-prone atypical diabetes is mostly recorded in people of African origin, but its epidemiology is not understood fully because data for pathogenesis and subtypes of diabetes in sub-Saharan African communities are scarce. The rate of undiagnosed diabetes is high in most countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and individuals who are unaware they have the disorder are at very high risk of chronic complications. Therefore, the rate of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality in this region could grow substantially. A multisectoral approach to diabetes control and care is vital for expansion of socioculturally appropriate diabetes programmes in sub-Saharan African countries.

Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and task shifting in their management in sub-Saharan Africa

Chronic diseases are becoming increasingly important in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The current density and distribution of health workforce suggest that SSA cannot respond to the growing demand for chronic disease care, together with the frequent infectious diseases. Innovative approaches are therefore needed to rapidly expand the health workforce. In this article, we discuss the evidences in support of nurse-led strategies for chronic disease management in SSA, with a focus on hypertension and diabetes mellitus.