Differences in patient knowledge about diabetes as a function of type of primary care physician

Assessment of sulfonylurea adherence and metabolic control

This study was designed to compare sulfonylurea adherence assessment by providers, patients' self-report, pill counts, and a medication event monitoring system (MEMS-3) device, and correlate the estimates of metabolic control by provider, patient, and laboratory. Forty-seven outpatient veterans with fair to poor metabolic control of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were enrolled and received monthly refills of sulfonylurea in vials with a cap containing an electronic medication monitoring microprocessor. Pill counts and fasting plasma glucoses were measured monthly, and glycohemoglobin and a 24-hour diet recall were obtained at 0 and 60 days. Investigators then asked providers and patients to assess adherence and metabolic control. Forty-seven percent were nonadherent to medication using MEMS-3, 29% using pill counts, 29% using provider assessment, and 31% using self-report. Thirty-one percent of providers and 53% of patients assessed metabolic control differently than laboratory values. Assessment of medication adherence by provider, patient, and pill counts did not explain metabolic control as closely as assessment by MEMS-3.

Continuing medical education on diabetes by primary care physicians

The actual and preferred methods of continuing medical education (CME) on diabetes were determined from a telephone survey of a stratified random sample of over 600 primary care physicians in Pennsylvania. A response rate of 73% was obtained. Journal articles were identified as the leading source of information that affected practice behavior related to diabetes. However, no single journal was read by a majority of physicians, and information provided in diabetes journals reached fewer than 10% of primary care physicians. Local educational programs and programs offered by hospitals were the preferred choices for continuing medical education. When reported patterns of care for diabetic patients were compared with published standards of care, no statistical differences were found between physicians who had and physicians who had not attended a CME course. To be most effective, CME courses should be intensive and may need to be presented locally to reach the widest possible audience.