Doctors' and nurses' views on patient care for type 2 diabetes: an interview study in primary health care in Oman.

AIM: This study aimed at exploring the experiences of primary health-care providers of their encounters with patients with type 2 diabetes, and their preferences and suggestions for future improvement of diabetes care. BACKGROUND: Barriers to good diabetes care could be related to problems from health-care providers' side, patients' side or the health-care system of the country. Treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes has become a huge challenge in Oman, where the prevalence has increased to high levels. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 health-care professionals, 19 doctors and seven nurses, who worked in primary health care in Oman. Qualitative content analysis was applied. Findings Organizational barriers and barriers related to patients and health-care providers were identified. These included workload and lack of teamwork approach. Poor patients' management adherence and influence of culture on their attitudes towards illness were identified. From the providers' side, language barriers, providers' frustration and aggressive attitudes towards the patients were reflected. Decreasing the workload, availability of competent teams with diabetes specialist nurses and continuity of care were suggested. Furthermore, changing professional behaviours towards a more patient-centred approach and need for health education to the patients, especially on self-management, were addressed. Appropriate training for health-care providers in communication skills with emphasis on self-care education and individualization of care according to each patient's needs are important for improvement of diabetes care in Oman.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among prediabetic Omani adults: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a well-established risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). A recent cross-sectional, community-based study revealed that 36.1% of Omani adults are prediabetic as per American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its relationship to various risk factors in a prediabetic population. METHODS: Our study included 281 Omani prediabetic adults. The anthropometric, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure measurements together with lipid profile estimation were carried out. RESULTS: In this study, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was found to be 45.9%, and the gender-based distribution was 30.8% for men and 58.9% for women. The stepwise multiple logistic regression model revealed that women are at higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Prediabetics with a body mass index (BMI) >or= 30.0 (kg/m(2)) and abnormal waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) have a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome with odds ratios (OR) of 20.20 and 6.38, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this prediabetic study population was found to be higher than that of in the general population. Certain health promotion and disease prevention measures have been suggested. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on this subject.

Prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk profiles among prediabetic Omani adults.

BACKGROUND: The importance of prediabetes and prehypertension has been demonstrated in several studies especially for primary prevention of CVD. A recent community based cross-sectional study revealed that 40.9 percent Omani adults are prediabetics. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of prehypertension and associated cardiovascular risk profiles in prediabetics. To best of our knowledge, this is the first report on this subject. METHODS: The study included 327 confirmed pre-diabetic Omani adults, who were analysed for their demographic, metabolic and behavioral characteristics. These characteristics were compared between the three different blood pressure groups to determine the CVD risk factors. Univariate and step-wise multiple logistic regression methods were used to carry out the analysis of the data. RESULTS: In this study, the prevalence of prehypertension was 54.1 percent. Males were at higher risk of developing prehypertension as compared to females (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.38; P < 0.01). The individuals with higher BMI have two fold more risk of developing prehypertension (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.26, 4.02; P < 0.01). The increased level of OGT enhanced the risk of developing prehypertension (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.50; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of prehypertension (54.1%) exists in this study population. The major determinants of prehypertension in these prediabetic subjects were male gender, increasing dysglycemia and BMI. Appropriate intervention strategies have been suggested.

Quality of interaction between primary health-care providers and patients with type 2 diabetes in Muscat, Oman: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: A good patient-physician interaction is particularly important in chronic diseases like diabetes. There are so far no published data regarding the interaction between the primary health-care providers and patients with type 2 diabetes in Oman, where diabetes is a major and growing health problem. This study aimed at exploring how health-care providers interact with patients with type 2 diabetes at primary health-care level in Muscat, Oman, focusing on the consultation environment, and some aspects of care and information. METHODS: Direct observations of 90 consultations between 23 doctors and 13 diabetes nurses concerned with diabetes management during their consultations with type 2 diabetes patients in six primary health-care centres in the Muscat region, using checklists developed from the National Diabetes Guidelines. Consultations were assessed as optimal if more than 75% of observed aspects were fulfilled and sub-optimal if less than 50% were fulfilled. RESULTS: Overall 52% of the doctors' consultations were not optimal. Some important aspects for a positive consultation environment were fulfilled in only about half of the doctors' consultations: ensuring privacy of consultation (49%), eye contact (49%), good attention (52%), encouraging asking questions (47%), and emphasizing on the patients' understanding of the provided information (52%). The doctors inquired about adverse effects of anti-diabetes drugs in less than 10% of consultations. The quality of the nurses' consultations was sub-optimal in about 75% of 85 consultations regarding aspects of consultation environment, care and information. CONCLUSION: The performance of the primary health-care doctors and diabetes nurses needs to be improved. The role of the diabetes nurses and the teamwork should be enhanced. We suggest a multidisciplinary team approach, training and education to the providers to upgrade their skills regarding communication and care. Barriers to compliance with the guidelines need to be further explored. Improving the work situation mainly for the diabetes nurses and further improvement in the organizational efficiency of diabetes services such as lowering the number of patients in diabetes clinic, are suggested.