Making Use of Comparable Health Data to Improve Quality of Care and Outcomes in Diabetes: The EUBIROD Review of Diabetes Registries and Data Sources in Europe.

Background: Registries and data sources contain information that can be used on an ongoing basis to improve quality of care and outcomes of people with diabetes. As a specific task of the EU Bridge Health project, we carried out a survey of diabetes-related data sources in Europe. Objectives: We aimed to report on the organization of different sources of diabetes information, including their governance, information infrastructure and dissemination strategies for quality control, service planning, public health, policy and research. Methods: Survey using a structured questionnaire to collect targeted data from a network of collaborating institutions managing registries and data sources in 17 countries in the year 2017. Results: The 18 data sources participating in the study were most frequently academic centres (44.4%), national (72.2%), targeting all types of diabetes (61.1%) covering no more than 10% of the target population (44.4%). Although population-based in over a quarter of cases (27.8%), sources relied predominantly on provider-based datasets (38.5%), fewer using administrative data (16.6%). Data collection was continuous in the majority of cases (61.1%), but 50% could not perform data linkage. Public reports were more frequent (72.2%) as well as quality reports (77.8%), but one third did not provide feedback to policy and only half published ten or more peer reviewed papers during the last 5 years. Conclusions: The heterogeneous implementation of diabetes registries and data sources hampers the comparability of quality and outcomes across Europe. Best practices exist but need to be shared more effectively to accelerate progress and deliver equitable results for people with diabetes.

IDF Europe's position on mobile applications in diabetes.

Over the last decade, advances in technology and connectivity have led to the boom of Internet-based and mobile applications (Apps) which have rendered access to information easier and faster and have changed our daily lives. With 60 million people living with diabetes (PWD) in Europe and 32 million more at risk, diabetes has been a major target for software companies, with the aim to help people manage their chronic condition, and to prevent diabetes in people at risk. IDF Europe is the voice of 70 national associations, representing PWD and health professionals in 47 European countries, and a strong supporter of innovation in healthcare. Witnessing the emergence of Apps in the field of diabetes, given the general uptake of a connected lifestyle, and recognising the potential in the ability of these Apps to make an impact on the lives of PWD, IDF Europe reflected on Mobile Applications in Diabetes, examining Diabetes and new technology through psychology, motivation and behavioral change in diabetes management; the healthcare professional perspective; potential roles of diabetes-related Apps, pointing to existing evidence and important ethical issues; and finally offering recommendations on four levels: individual, healthcare professional, political and App developers.