Quality assessment of primary health care services provided for diabetes mellitus control in Alexandria

The present study was conducted aiming at: assessment of the quality of primary health care [PHC] services provided for the control of diabetes mellitus [DM] in Alexandria; and opportunistic screening of high risk individuals attending PHC facilities for DM. Accordingly, the availability of human and non-human resources for DM control in two r h and two urban PHC centers in Alexandria [one of them was sewing a desert area] was assessed by a pre-designed checklist 920 adult PHC attendants were screened for risk factors of DM. Individuals having more than one of the following risk factors: age above 50 years, overweight [body mass index >27 kg/m2], family history of DM in first degree relatives, history of hypertension, hypertension [systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg and /or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg], history of hyperlipidemia and history of gestational diabetes or birth of a large sized baby in females- were subjected to random capillary blood glucose [RCBG] testing. Cases were considered likely diabetic if RCBG was >200 mg/dl. The performance of all PHC physicians examining and managing 560 diabetic patients was observed over a period of two months. One fourth of the diabetic cases were checked for the level of glycaemic control by fasting capillary blood glucose testing

role of primary health care in patient education for diabetes control

The aim of the present work was to study the role of primary health care [PHC] in patient education for diabetes control in Alexandria. Accordingly, the knowledge and perception concerning diabetes and its management of all PHC physicians [88] and nurses [104] working in 2 rural health centers and 2 randomly chosen urban health centers of Alexandria Governorate were assessed by a pre-designed self-administered questionnaire. All diabetic patients [560] over 20 years of age attending the study health facilities over a period of 2 months were assessed for their knowledge and attitude concerning diabetes and self-management and asked about their degree of satisfaction with the provided PHC services by a pre-designed interview questionnaire. It may be concluded that there is a serious gap in the provision of basic education services to the majority of diabetic patients attending PHC facilities in Alexandria