Towards patient-oriented diabetes care: results from two KORA surveys in southern Germany

Evaluation of Self-care Activities and Quality of Life in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Metformin Using the 2D Matrix Code of Outer Drug Packages as Patient Identifier: the DePRO Proof-of-Concept Observational Study

Background

The use of digital technology to assess patients remotely can reduce clinical study costs. In the European Union, the 2D matrix code on prescription drug packaging serves as a unique identifier of a given package of medication, and thus, also of the patient receiving that medication. Scanning of the 2D matrix code may therefore allow remote patient authentication in clinical studies.

Objective

The aim of the DePRO study was to assess the feasibility of a fully digital data-capture workflow, the authentication of participants via drug packaging 2D matrix codes, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who use metformin. The primary objective was to describe the self-care activities of these patients. Secondary objectives were to evaluate (1) the self-reported health status of these patients, (2) the association of self-care activities with demographics and disease characteristics, and (3) the usability of the my ePRO app.

Methods

DePRO was an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional, digital, and patient-driven study conducted in Germany from June to December 2020. Adult patients prescribed metformin were invited to participate via their pharmacist or a medication tracker app. Participants downloaded the my ePRO app onto their own mobile device, scanned the 2D matrix code on their metformin package for registration and authentication, and provided informed consent via an electronic form. They were then able to complete a study-specific questionnaire on demographics and clinical characteristics, the German version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities measure (SDSCA-G), the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ), and the EQ-5D-5L. The patients conducted the study without support from a health care professional. Statistical analyses were exploratory and descriptive.

Results

In total, 3219 patients were invited to participate. The proportion of patients giving consent was greater among those invited by pharmacists (19/217, 8.8%) than among those invited via the medication tracker app (13/3002, 0.4%). Of the 29 patients eligible for analysis, 28 (97%) completed all study questionnaires. Most of the patients (23/29, 79%) were aged <60 years, and 59% (17/29) were male. The patients spent a mean total of 3.5 (SD 1.3) days out of 7 days on self-care activities (SDSCA-G). Most patients (24/29, 83%) were satisfied to extremely satisfied with their current treatment (DTSQ). Events of perceived hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia were reported by 20 of 29 (69%) patients. The best possible health status (EQ-5D-5L) was reported by 18 of 28 (64%) patients. Age was positively correlated with time spent on general and specific diet (Spearman coefficient 0.390 and 0.434, respectively).

Conclusions

The DePRO study demonstrates the feasibility of fully digital authentication (via 2D matrix codes on drug packaging) and data capture in patients with T2DM. Personal invitations yielded higher recruitment rates than remote invitations via the medication tracker app. A high questionnaire completion rate was realized, based on completion by 28 out of 29 patients.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04383041; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04383041

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

RR2-10.2196/21727

A new model of patient-centred care for general practitioners: results of an integrative review

BACKGROUND

GPs providing patient-centred care (PCC) is embedded in international health care policies due to its positive impact on patients and potential to lower health care costs. However, what is currently known about GP-delivered PCC is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize literature investigating GP-delivered PCC and address 'what is currently known about GP-delivered PCC?'

METHOD

A systematic literature search was conducted between June and July 2018. Eligible articles were empirical, full-text studies published in English between January 2003 and July 2018, related to at least three of the four dimensions of PCC described by Hudon et al. (2011), and related to preventative, acute, and/or chronic care by GPs. Following screening, full-text articles were independently assessed for inclusion by two investigators. Data were extracted and quality assessed by two researchers. Findings on PCC were analysed thematically (meta-synthesis).

RESULTS

Thirty medium- to high-quality studies met the inclusions criteria. Included studies utilized varied designs, with the most frequent being quantitative, cross-sectional. A theoretical model of PCC was synthesized from included studies and contained four major components: (i) understanding the whole person, (ii) finding common ground, (iii) experiencing time and (iv) aiming for positive outcomes. Harms of PCC were rarely reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Four overarching theoretical components of PCC relate to elements of the consultation and experience of time. These components can be used to inform the development of toolkits to support GPs and general practice organizations in pursuit of PCC as well as tools to measure patient-centredness.

Correlation of SF-36 and SF-12 Component Scores in Patients With Diabetic Foot Disease

The assessment of patient outcomes is becoming increasingly important in all areas of medicine, including foot and ankle surgery. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item (SF-36) is widely used as a generic measure of quality of life; however, patients often find answering 36 questions cumbersome. Consequently, the Short Form 12 (SF-12) was developed. We hypothesized that the agreement between the SF-12 and SF-36 component scores would be substantial in patients with diabetic foot disease. We retrospectively reviewed the data from 300 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and foot and ankle pathology who completed the SF-36 questionnaire. Of the 300 patients, 155 (51.7%) had problems directly related to complications of DM and 145 (48.3%) had routine foot complaints that were unrelated to complications of DM. The 12 questions of the SF-12 were abstracted from the SF-36. The overall median score for the SF-36 physical component summary was 34.70 compared with the overall SF-12 physical component summary of 36.75 (p = .04). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.93688. The overall median score for the SF-36 mental component summary was 52.40 compared with the overall SF-12 mental component summary of 51.25 (p = .34). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.95449. Substantial agreement was observed when comparing the component scores of the SF-12 and the SF-36. From our study results of 300 patients with DM, it appears that the SF-36 and SF-12 are comparable outcome instruments for use with patients with diabetic foot disease.