The cost-effectiveness of substituting physicians with diabetes nurse specialists: a randomized controlled trial with 2-year follow-up. Substitution model with central role for nurse specialist is justified in the care for stable type 2 diabetic outpatients. Specialist nurse-led intervention to treat and control hypertension and hyperlipidemia in diabetes (SPLINT): a randomized controlled trial. An evaluation of a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber on the system of delivering medicines to patients with diabetes. Community-based care for the management of type 2 diabetes: an evidence-based analysis. Evaluation of a hospital diabetes specialist nursing service: a randomized controlled trial. A cluster randomised controlled trial of the effect of a treatment algorithm for hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes. A Mobile Health Intervention for Self-Management and Lifestyle Change for Persons With Type 2 Diabetes, Part 2: One-Year Results From the Norwegian Randomized Controlled Trial RENEWING HEALTH A cluster randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Intermediate Care Clinics for Diabetes (ICCD): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Nursing Case Management and Glycemic Control Among Brazilians With Type 2 Diabetes: Pragmatic Clinical Trial Specialist nurse-led clinics to improve control of hypertension and hyperlipidemia in diabetes: economic analysis of the SPLINT trial. Nurse Case Management To Improve Glycemic Control in Diabetic Patients in a Health Maintenance Organization Shared care with task delegation to nurses for type 2 diabetes: prospective observational study. Educational outreach in diabetes to encourage practice nurses to use primary care hypertension and hyperlipidaemia guidelines (EDEN): a randomized controlled trial. A Low-Intensity Mobile Health Intervention With and Without Health Counseling for Persons With Type 2 Diabetes, Part 1: Baseline and Short-Term Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial in the Norwegian Part of RENEWING HEALTH The effectiveness of nurse‐led care in general practice on clinical outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes [Interventions to improve the management of diabetes mellitus in primary health care and outpatient community settings]. Lessons learnt from a cluster-randomised trial evaluating the effectiveness of Self-Management Support (SMS) delivered by practice nurses in routine diabetes care Controlled trial of a collaborative primary care team model for patients with diabetes and depression: Rationale and design for a comprehensive evaluation A randomised controlled clinical trial of nurse-, dietitian- and pedagogistled Group Care for the management of Type 2 diabetes Nurse-led telecoaching of people with type 2 diabetes in primary care: rationale, design and baseline data of a randomized controlled trial Effect of a Nurse-Led Diabetes Self-Management Education Program on Glycosylated Hemoglobin among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes The North Dublin randomized controlled trial of structured diabetes shared care.
AIMS To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an intervention substituting physicians with nurse specialists . BACKGROUND Increasing population s of people with diabetes in most Western countries require creative solutions that give high- quality chronic care while controlling costs . Instigating nurse specialists as a substitute for physicians yields positive results in this area . Research about such interventions in a hospital-based setting is limited . METHODS This paper is a report of a study of a r and omized , non-blinded clinical trial including people with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 . In the intervention group  nurse specialists  were the central carers , providing care that conformed to a preset protocol . Patients were included between 2004 and 2007 .  Costs , quality of life and adverse events were measured , cost-effect ratios and incremental cost-effect ratios were calculated based on health-re source utilization rates , corresponding market prices and national tariffs from 2007 . RESULTS Health related quality of life scores did not differ significantly between the control and the intervention group . In the intervention group , fewer patients were hospitalized and fewer side effects from drugs were reported compared to controls . Nurse specialists as central care givers generated a modest reduction in costs per quality adjusted life year gained compared to usual care . CONCLUSION Nurse specialists give diabetes care that is similar to care provided by physicians in terms of quality of life and economic value . Instigating a nurse specialist as central carer yields opportunities to generate cost savings . Developing interventions which also focus on prevention of complications is recommended when aim ing for long-term organisational cost savings AIM OF THE STUDY Assessment of effects on quality of care , in terms of patient outcomes , when tasks in the care for out patients with stable type 2 diabetes are transferred from internist to nurse specialist and from outpatient clinic to general practice . BACKGROUND For the management of chronic diseases with a high prevalence and requiring current monitoring , it is suggested that substitution of care may be an appropriate solution to safeguard high quality care . DESIGN AND METHODS A 12-month nonequivalent control group design was used . General practitioners ( GPs ) referring diabetes patients to the University Hospital Maastricht were asked to choose for the traditional model or the nurse specialist model . Informed consent was obtained from patients with stable diabetes type 2 attending these practice s. All patients received care according to the model chosen by their GP . Identified outcomes were : clinical status , health status , self-care behaviour , knowledge of diabetes , patient satisfaction , and consultation with care-providers . RESULTS In the control group ( n=47 ) no patients were treated with oral hypoglycaemic agents ( OHA ) only . The control group was compared with an intervention subgroup ( n=52 ) also without patients receiving OHA only . Clinical data were available for all patients . Patients without complete data from question naires had better mean concentration of HbA1c than patients with complete data ( P=0.004 ) . The traditional care model and the nurse specialist model achieved equal outcomes , while glycaemic control of patients in the nurse specialist model improved ( from 8.6 % to 8.3 % ) but deteriorated in the traditional model ( from 8.6 % to 8.8 % ; P-value between groups=0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS The model with nurse specialists taking on roles and tasks beyond those traditionally regarded as their remit as well as new ones , is effective for the care of stable diabetic out patients OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of specialist nurse-led clinics for hypertension and hyperlipidemia provided for diabetic patients receiving hospital-based care . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This study was a r and omized controlled implementation trial at Hope Hospital , Salford , U.K. The subjects consisted of 1,407 subjects presenting for annual review with raised blood pressure(>or=140/80 mmHg ) , raised total cholesterol ( > or=5.0 mmol/l ) , or both . Individuals with diabetes were r and omized to usual care or usual care with subsequent invitation to attend  specialist nurse-led clinics . Nurses provided clinics for participants , with attendance every 4 - 6 weeks , until targets were achieved . Lifestyle advice and titration of drug therapies were provided according to the locally agreed upon guidelines . Patients with both conditions were eligible for enrollment in either or both clinics . At subsequent annual review , blood pressure and total cholesterol values were obtained from the Salford electronic diabetes register . Data relating to deaths were obtained from the national strategic tracing service . The primary outcome was the odds ratio of achieving targets in hypertension and hyperlipidemia , attributable to the  specialist nurse-led intervention . RESULTS Overall , specialist nurse-led clinics were associated with a significant improvement in patients achieving the target after 1 year ( odds ratio [ OR ] 1.37 [ 95 % CI 1.11 - 1.69 ] , P = 0.003 ) . This primary analysis revealed a borderline difference in effect between the two types of clinics ( test for interaction between groups : P = 0.06 ) . Secondary analysis , consistent with the prior beliefs of the health care professionals involved , suggested that targets were achieved more frequently in patients enrolled in the specialist nurse-led clinic for hyperlipidemia ( OR 1.69 [ 1.25 - 2.29 ] , P = 0.0007 ) than for hypertension ( OR 1.14 [ 0.86 - 1.51 ] , P = 0.37 ) . Intervention ( enrolled to either or both clinics ) was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality ( OR 0.55 [ 0.32 - 0.92 ] , P = 0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS This study provides good evidence to support the use of specialist nurse-led clinics as an effective adjunct to hospital-based care of patients with diabetes . If the st and ards of care recommended in the National Service Framework for Diabetes are to be achieved , then such proven methods for delivering care must be adopted AIM To evaluate the impact of a  Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber  on insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agent  medication errors and length of stay . BACKGROUND The National Health Service has committed to a 40 % reduction in the number of drug errors in the use of prescribed medicines . Drug errors in diabetes care are a common cause of significant morbidity and complications . Nurse prescribing creates an opportunity for nurses to improve care for these patients . DESIGN A quasi-experiment using six wards in a single hospital trust . METHODS Inpatient care of a convenience sample of patients with diabetes was evaluated before ( n = 27 ) and after ( n = 29 ) the intervention of a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber . Prospect i ve data were collected to measure  insulin and oral hypoglycaemic medication errors and length of stay . RESULTS There was a significant reduction in the total number of errors between the pre-intervention and intervention group ( mean reduction 21 errors ) ( p = 0.016 ) . The median length of stay was reduced by three days . The total number of errors and length of stay were affected by admission category ( p = 0.0004 ) . CONCLUSIONS A medicines management intervention , provided by a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber , had a positive effect on the system of delivering medicines to patients with diabetes and significantly reduced the number of errors . This reduction had some effect on length of stay . The cost saving was sufficient to finance a Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber post . RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE ( i ) Errors frequently occur in the prescription and administration of medicines to patients with diabetes . ( ii ) The education of healthcare professionals is a factor contributing to these errors . ( iii ) Nurse prescribing provides a new system by which to educate patients and staff about their medicines . ( iv ) A Diabetes Specialist Nurse prescriber can reduce insulin and OHA MEs . This reduction had some effect on LOS UNLABELLED In June 2008 , the Medical Advisory Secretariat began work on the Diabetes Strategy Evidence Project , an evidence -based review of the literature surrounding strategies for successful management and treatment of diabetes . This project came about when the Health System Strategy Division at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care subsequently asked the secretariat to provide an evidentiary platform for the Ministry 's newly released Diabetes Strategy .After an initial review of the strategy and consultation with experts , the secretariat identified five key areas in which evidence was needed . Evidence -based analyses have been prepared for each of these five areas : insulin pumps , behavioural interventions , bariatric surgery , home telemonitoring , and community based care . For each area , an economic analysis was completed where appropriate and is described in a separate report . To review these titles within the Diabetes Strategy Evidence series , please visit the Medical Advisory Secretariat Web site , http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/mas/mas_about.html,DIABETES STRATEGY EVIDENCE PLATFORM : Summary of Evidence -Based AnalysesContinuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Pumps for Type 1 and Type 2 Adult Diabetics : An Evidence -Based Analysis Behavioural Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes : An Evidence -Based Analysis BARIATRIC SURGERY FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AND MORBID OBESITY : An Evidence -Based Summary Community-Based Care for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes : An Evidence -Based Analysis Home Telemonitoring for Type 2 Diabetes  : An Evidence -Based Analysis Application of the Ontario Diabetes Economic Model ( ODEM ) to Determine the Cost-effectiveness and Budget Impact of Selected Type 2 Diabetes Interventions in Ontario OBJECTIVE The objective of this report is to determine the efficacy of specialized multidisciplinary community care for the management of type 2 diabetes compared to usual care . CLINICAL NEED TARGET POPULATION AND CONDITION Diabetes ( i.e. diabetes mellitus ) is a highly prevalent chronic metabolic disorder that interferes with the body 's ability to produce or effectively use insulin . The majority ( 90 % ) of diabetes patients have type 2 diabetes . ( 1 ) Based on the United Kingdom Prospect i ve Diabetes Study ( UKPDS ) , intensive blood glucose and blood pressure control significantly reduce the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetics . While many studies have documented that patients often do not meet the glycemic control targets specified by national and international guidelines , factors associated with glycemic control are less well studied , one of which is the provider(s ) of care . Multidisciplinary approaches to care may be particularly important for diabetes management . According guidelines from the Canadian Diabetes Association ( CDA ) , the diabetes health care team should be multi- and interdisciplinary . Presently in Ontario , the core diabetes health care team consists of at least a family physician and /or diabetes specialist , and diabetes educators ( registered nurse and registered dietician ) . Increasing the role played by allied health care professionals in diabetes care and their collaboration with physicians may represent a more cost-effective option for diabetes management . Several systematic review s and meta-analyses have examined multidisciplinary care programs , but these have either been limited to a specific component of multidisciplinary care ( e.g. intensified education programs ) , or were conducted as part of a broader disease management program , of which not all were multidisciplinary in nature . Most review s also do not clearly define the intervention(s ) of interest , making the evaluation of such multidisciplinary community programs challenging . EVIDENCE -BASED ANALYSIS METHODS RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is the evidence of efficacy of specialized multidisciplinary community care provided by at least a registered nurse , registered dietician and physician ( primary care and /or specialist ) for the management of type 2 diabetes compared to usual care ? [ Henceforth referred to as Model 1]What is the evidence of efficacy of specialized multidisciplinary community care provided by at least a pharmacist and a primary care physician for the management of type 2 diabetes compared to usual care ? [ Henceforth referred to as Model 2 ] INCLUSION CRITERIA English language full-reportsPublished between January 1 , 2000 and September 28 , 2008R and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) , systematic review s and meta-analysesType 2 diabetic adult population ( ≥18 years of age)Total sample size ≥30Describe specialized multidisciplinary community care defined as ambulatory-based care provided by at least two health care disciplines ( of which at least one must be a specialist in diabetes ) with integrated communication between the care providers . Compared to usual care ( defined as health care provision by non-specialist(s ) in diabetes , such as primary care providers ; may include referral to other health care professionals/services as necessary)≥6 months follow-up EXCLUSION CRITERIA Studies where discrete results on diabetes can not be abstract edPredominantly home-based interventions Inpatient-based interventions OUTCOMES OF INTEREST The primary outcomes for this review were glycosylated hemoglobin ( rHbA1c ) levels and systolic blood pressure ( SBP ) . SEARCH STRATEGY A literature search was performed on September 28 , 2008 using OVID MEDLINE , MEDLINE In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations , EMBASE , the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature ( CINAHL ) , the Cochrane Library , and the International Agency for Health Technology Assessment ( INAHTA ) for studies published between January 1 , 2000 and September 28 , 2008 . Abstract s were review ed by a single review er and , for those studies meeting the eligibility criteria , full-text articles were obtained . Reference lists were also examined for any additional relevant studies not identified through the search . Articles with unknown eligibility were review ed with a second clinical epidemiologist , then a group of epidemiologists until consensus was established . The quality of evidence was assessed as high , moderate , low or very low according to GRADE methodology . Given the high clinical heterogeneity of the articles that met the inclusion criteria , specific models of specialized multidisciplinary community care were examined based on models of care that are currently being supported in Ontario , models of care that were commonly reported in the literature , as well as suggestions from an Expert Advisory Panel Meeting held on January 21 , 2009 . SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The initial search yielded 2,116 unique citations , from which 22 RCTs trials and nine systematic review s published were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria . Of these , five studies focused on care provided by at least a nurse , dietician , and physician ( primary care and /or specialist ) model of care ( Model 1 ; see Table ES 1 ) , while three studies focused on care provided by at least a pharmacist and primary care physician ( Model 2 ; see Table ES 2 ) . Based on moderate quality evidence , specialized multidisciplinary community care Model 2 has demonstrated a statistically and clinical ly significant reduction in HbA1c of 1.0 % compared with usual care . The effects of this model on SBP , however , are uncertain compared with usual care , based on very-low quality evidence . Specialized multidisciplinary community care Model 2 has demonstrated a statistically and clinical ly significant reduction in both HbA1c of 1.05 % ( based on high quality evidence ) and SBP of 7.13 mm Hg ( based on moderate quality evidence ) compared to usual care . For both models , the evidence does not suggest a preferred setting of care delivery ( i.e. , primary care vs. hospital outpatient clinic vs. community clinic ) . Table ES1 : Summary of Results of Meta-Analyses of the Effects of Multidisciplinary Care Model 1 Outcome Estimate of effect(95 % CI)Heterogeneity I(2)(p-value ) GRADE Glycosylated Hemoglobin ( HbA1c [%])-1.00 [ -1.27 , -0.73]4 % (p=0.37)Moderate- quality Subgroup : Moderate-to-High Quality -0.91 [ -1.19 , -0.62]0 % (p=0.74)Systolic Blood Pressure ( mm Hg)-2.04 [ -13.80 , 9.72]89 % (p=0.002)Very-low quality * Mean change from baseline to follow-up between intervention and control groupsTable ES2 : Summary of Results of Meta-Analyses of the Effects of Multidisciplinary Care Model 2 Outcome Estimate of effect(95 % CI)Heterogeneity I(2)(p-value ) GRADE Glycosylated Hemoglobin ( HbA1c [%])-1.05 [ -1.57 , -0.52]0 % (p=0.75)High- quality Systolic Blood Pressure ( mm Hg)-7.13 [ -11.78 , -2.48]46 % (p=0.17)Moderate quality * Mean change from baseline to follow-up between intervention and control groups AIMS To evaluate the effectiveness and cost implication s of a  hospital diabetes specialist nursing service . METHODS We conducted a prospect i ve , open , r and omized , controlled trial of st and ard in-patient care for adults with diabetes , with and without the intervention of a diabetes specialist nursing ( DSN ) service . The setting was a single UK university hospital . SUBJECTS were unselected patients referred to the hospital DSN service . Primary outcome measures were length of hospital stay and patterns of readmission ( frequency and time to first readmission ) . Secondary outcome measures were subjects ' diabetes-related quality of life , diabetes knowledge score , satisfaction with treatment , and GP and community care contacts following discharge . Costs were estimated from the hospital and published sources . RESULTS Median length of stay was lower in the intervention group ( 11.0 vs. 8.0 days , P < 0.01 ) . Readmission rates were the same in the two groups ( 25 % ) , and mean time to readmission was similar in the two groups , although slightly less in the control group ( 278 vs. 283 days , P = 0.80 ) . The cost per patient for nursing input was 38.94 pounds sterling . However , when the reduced length of stay was accounted for , the intervention produced a mean cost per admission of 436 ponds sterling lower than that of the control group ( P = 0.19 ) . Patients in the intervention group were more knowledgeable regarding their diabetes and more satisfied with their care . CONCLUSIONS Diabetes specialist nurses are potentially cost saving by reducing hospital length of stay ( LOS ) . There was no evidence of an adverse effect of reduced LOS on re-admissions , use of community re sources , or patient perception of quality of care BACKGROUND Good blood pressure ( BP ) control reduces the risk of complications in people with type 2 diabetes , yet many do not achieve this . Guidelines for managing hypertension recommend increasing antihypertensive medications until control is achieved , but the effect of such recommendations in routine primary care is unknown . AIM To evaluate the effectiveness of a BP treatment algorithm in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes . DESIGN OF STUDY A cluster r and omised controlled trial of 1534 patients with type 2 diabetes . SETTING Forty-two practice s in Nottingham , UK . METHOD Practice s were r and omised to continue usual care or to use a treatment algorithm design ed so that practice nurses and GPs would increase antihypertensive treatment in steps until the target of 140/80 mmHg was reached . Participants were assessed by a clinical interview and case note review at recruitment and at 1 year . The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants achieving target BP at 1 year . RESULTS At 1 year there was no difference between the proportions of participants with well controlled BP in the intervention and control arms ( 36.6 % versus 34.3 % ; P = 0.27 ) . Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were identical in the two arms ( 143/78 mmHg ) . There was some evidence that participants in the intervention arm were more likely to be receiving higher doses of their antihypertensive drugs , although there was no significant difference in the number of different antihypertensive drugs prescribed . Participants in the intervention arm had a higher rate of primary care BP-related consultations over 12 months than those receiving usual care ( rate ratio = 1.55 , 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] = 1.26 to 1.88 , P<0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Despite increased monitoring and possibly higher doses of medication there was no improvement in blood pressure control . Improvements achieved by specialist nurse-led clinics in secondary care may not translate to people with type 2 diabetes in primary care setting Background Self-management is crucial in the daily management of type 2 diabetes . It has been suggested that mHealth may be an important method for enhancing self-management when delivered in combination with health counseling . Objective The objective of this study was to test whether the use of a mobile phone – based self-management system used for 1 year , with or without telephone health counseling by a diabetes specialist nurse for the first 4 months , could improve glycated hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c ) level , self-management , and health-related quality of life compared with usual care . Methods We conducted a 3-arm prospect i ve r and omized controlled trial involving 2 intervention groups and 1 control group . Eligible participants were persons with type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c level ≥7.1 % ( ≥54.1 mmol/mol ) and aged ≥18 years . Both intervention groups received the mobile phone – based self-management system Few Touch Application ( FTA ) . The FTA consisted of a blood glucose – measuring system with automatic wireless data transfer , diet manual , physical activity registration , and management of personal goals , all recorded and operated using a diabetes diary app on the mobile phone . In addition , one intervention group received health counseling based on behavior change theory and delivered by a diabetes specialist nurse for the first 4 months after r and omization . All groups received usual care by their general practitioner . The primary outcome was HbA1c level . Secondary outcomes were self-management ( heiQ ) , health-related quality of life ( SF-36 ) , depressive symptoms ( CES-D ) , and lifestyle changes ( dietary habits and physical activity ) . Data were analyzed using univariate methods ( t test , ANOVA ) and multivariate linear and logistic regression . Results A total of 151 participants were r and omized : 51 to the FTA group , 50 to the FTA-health counseling ( FTA-HC )  group , and 50 to the  control group . Follow-up data after 1 year were available for 120 participants ( 79 % ) . HbA1c level decreased in all groups , but did not differ between groups after 1 year . The mean change in the heiQ domain skills and technique acquisition was significantly greater in the FTA-HC group after adjusting for age , gender , and education ( P=.04 ) . Other secondary outcomes did not differ between groups after 1 year . In the FTA group , 39 % were substantial users of the app ; 34 % of the FTA-HC group were substantial users . Those aged ≥63 years used the app more than their younger counterparts did ( OR 2.7 ; 95 % CI 1.02 - 7.12 ; P=.045 ) . Conclusions The change in HbA1c level did not differ between groups after the 1-year intervention . Secondary outcomes did not differ between groups except for an increase in the self-management domain of skill and technique acquisition in the FTA-HC group . Older participants used the app more than the younger participants did Abstract Background World-wide healthcare systems are faced with an epidemic of type 2 diabetes . In the United Kingdom , clinical care is primarily provided by general practitioners ( GPs ) rather than hospital specialists . Intermediate care clinics for diabetes ( ICCD ) potentially provide a model for supporting GPs in their care of people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and in their management of cardiovascular risk factors . This study aims to ( 1 ) compare patients with type 2 diabetes registered with practice s that have access to an ICCD service with those that have access only to usual hospital care ; ( 2 ) assess the cost-effectiveness of the intervention ; and ( 3 ) explore the views and experiences of patients , health professionals and other stakeholders . Methods / Design This two-arm cluster r and omized controlled trial ( with integral economic evaluation and qualitative study ) is set in general practice s in three UK Primary Care Trusts . Practice s are r and omized to one of two groups with patients referred to either an  ICCD ( intervention ) or to hospital care ( control ) . Intervention group : GP practice s in the intervention arm have the opportunity to refer patients to an ICCD - a multidisciplinary team led by a specialist nurse and a diabetologist . Patients are review ed and managed in the ICCD for a short period with a goal of improving diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor control and are then referred back to practice .or Control group : St and ard GP care , with referral to secondary care as required , but no access to ICCD .  Participants are adults aged 18 years or older who have type 2 diabetes that is difficult for their GPs to control . The primary outcome is the proportion of participants reaching three risk factor targets : HbA1c ( ≤7.0 % ) ; blood pressure ( < 140/80 ) ; and cholesterol ( < 4 mmol/l ) , at the end of the 18-month intervention period . The main secondary outcomes are the proportion of participants reaching individual risk factor targets and the overall 10-year risks for coronary heart disease(CHD ) and stroke assessed by the United Kingdom Prospect i ve Diabetes Study ( UKPDS ) risk engine . Other secondary outcomes include body mass index and waist circumference , use of medication , reported smoking , emotional adjustment , patient satisfaction and views on continuity , costs and health related quality of life . We aim ed to r and omize 50 practice s and recruit 2,555 patients . Discussion Forty-nine practice s have been r and omized , 1,997 patients have been recruited to the trial , and 20 patients  have been recruited to the qualitative study . Results will be available late 2012.Trial registration [ Clinical Trials.gov : Identifier NCT00945204 Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that requires ongoing , life-long care in order to be controlled . Objectives The aims of the study were to assess the effect of nursing case management on glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) levels compared to usual care in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to determine if effects of nursing case management varied by gender , age , duration of disease , education , and income . Methods This is a pragmatic clinical trial , conducted in the municipality of B and eirantes , Paraná , Brazil , in 2011 and 2012 . Eighty individuals were recruited and r and omized equally to receive nursing case management or usual care . Covariates were sociodemographic and clinical factors . The outcome was HbA1c measured at baseline , 6 months , and 12 months . Results The sample consisted predominately of women ; most had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus within the previous 5 years . Mean age was 50.14 ( SD = 7.00 ) , with 5.27 ( SD = 4.39 ) years of schooling and an average HbA1c of 9.90 % ( SD = 2.49 ) . Hemoglobin A1c was reduced from an average of 10.33 % to 9.0 % ( p < .01 ) in the nursing case management group and from 9.57 % to 8.93 % ( p = .05 ) in the usual care group ; the group by time effect was not significant . Case management effects varied by younger age ( p = .05 ) , duration of type 2 diabetes less than 5 years ( p = .03 ) , up to 4 years of schooling ( p = .04 ) , and being in the lowest-income stratum ( p = .02 ) . Discussion Both groups showed a statistically significant reduction of HbA1c at 6 and 12 months following baseline . The difference in proportional reduction of HbA1c between groups was not statistically significant OBJECTIVE To determine the cost-effectiveness of  specialist nurse-led clinics provided to improve lipid and blood pressure control in diabetic patients receiving hospital-based care . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A policy of targeting improved care through specialist nurse-led clinics is evaluated using a novel method , linking the cost-effectiveness of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatments with the cost and level of behavioral change achieved by the specialist nurse-led clinics . Treatment cost-effectiveness is modeled from the U.K. Prospect i ve Diabetes Study and Heart Protection Study treatment trials , whereas specialist nurse-led clinics are evaluated using the Specialist Nurse-Led Clinics to Improve Control of Hypertension and Hyperlipidemia in Diabetes ( SPLINT ) trial . RESULTS Good lipid and blood pressure control are cost-effective treatment goals for patients with diabetes . Modeling findings from treatment trials , blood pressure lowering is estimated to be cost saving and life prolonging ( -1,400 dollars/ quality -adjusted life-year [ QALY ] ) , whereas lipid-lowering is estimated to be highly cost-effective ( 8,230 dollars/QALY ) . Investing in nurse-led clinics to help achieve these benefits imposes an addition on treatment cost-effectiveness leading to higher estimates : 4,020 dollars/QALY and 19,950 dollars/QALY , respectively . For both clinics combined , the estimated cost-effectiveness is 9,070 dollars/QALY . Using an acceptability threshold of 50,000 dollars/QALY , the likelihood that blood pressure-lowering clinics are cost-effective is 77 % , lipid clinics 99 % , and combined clinics 83 % . CONCLUSIONS A method is described for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of policies to change patient uptake of health care . Such policies are less attractive than treatment cost-effectiveness ( which implies cost-less self-implementation ) . However , specialist nurse-led clinics , as an adjunct to hospital-based diabetic care , combining both lipid and blood pressure control , appear effective and likely to provide excellent value for money The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial ( DCCT ) and the Kumamoto study [ 1 , 2 ] showed that near-normal glycemic control reduces the development and progression of microvascular and neuropathic complications by approximately 50 % in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus . Additional analyses [ 3 - 5 ] indicate that therapy to achieve near normalization of blood glucose levels is cost-effective compared with other treatments . Thus , the American Diabetes Association has recommended that all persons with diabetes attempt to achieve near normalization of blood glucose levels [ 6 ] . This recommendation is not routinely followed in medical practice . In a 1989 national survey of physician practice behaviors in the United States , 64 % of physicians agreed that achieving target HbA1c values is very important but only 18 % reported that they ordered HbA1c tests every 2 to 3 months for patients with type 1 diabetes [ 7 ] . Although 98 % agreed that patient education improves glucose control , only 55 % reported that they routinely used a dietitian or a diabetes educator in patient care . Studies indicate that bringing clinical practice into line with scientific knowledge can be difficult . Methods used to achieve diabetes control in clinical trials are re source intensive . The American Diabetes Association currently recommends that patients with diabetes see their primary care physicians two to four times per year . Data from the National Health Interview Survey , a nationally representative survey [ 8 ] , indicate that most patients with diabetes are seen by nonspecialists and that 69 % of physician visits last less than 15 minutes . Algorithms for diabetes care exist but may be complex and difficult for physicians to follow , given patient load , diversity of patients seen , lack of information systems , and time constraints . Simple , low-cost methods of translating guidelines into clinical care are required . One solution may be to make greater use of personnel other than physicians . Nurse case management was an integral part of intensive therapy in the DCCT and has proven to be effective in reducing smoking and cholesterol levels after acute myocardial infa rct ion [ 3 , 9 ] . A nonr and omized study [ 10 ] of more than 700 patients with diabetes in a health maintenance organization suggests that nurse case management may be effective in improving metabolic control . Other studies [ 11 , 12 ] show a strong association between algorithm-directed nurse interventions and improved glycemic control . To our knowledge , no r and omized , controlled clinical trial of nurse case management in diabetes has yet been published . In a 12-month r and omized , controlled trial , we compared a nurse case management model of diabetes care with usual diabetes management in a primary care setting . Methods Patients Our study was approved by the institutional review board of the Prudential Center for Health Care Research , and all patients gave written informed consent . Participants were recruited from two of the largest clinics within the Jacksonville Health Care Group , which is the largest provider of primary care services for the Prudential HealthCare HMO plan of Jacksonville , Florida . The Jacksonville Health Care Group is a group of 43 primary care physicians who provide care in eight clinics to more than 75 000 Prudential HealthCare plan members . Potential study participants were identified through a data base used to support quality -improvement activities . Prudential HealthCare HMO members who had diabetes were included in the data base if they had visited a physician for diabetes ( International Classification of Diseases , 9th Revision , codes 250.0 to 250.9 ) , had had a hospital cl aim processed for diabetes , had been seen by the utilization management nurse , or had been referred to an ophthalmologist for a diabetic retinal examination . This data base is up date d regularly . A list with each member 's name , address , telephone number , medical record number , member identification number , age , sex , physician , and clinic was generated by merging the data from the data base with enrollment information . In addition , a list of members who may have had diabetes was created by using pharmacy data . Adult members with diabetes who were potential study participants each received a recruitment call and were invited to schedule an appointment with a research assistant to discuss participation in the study . We made a total of 14 calls at different times and on different days before coding a member as unavailable . After consent was given and the eligibility assessment was completed , baseline information was obtained and an HbA1c test was ordered if the result of one given within the previous 60 days was not available . Patients were ineligible for the study if they had a recent HbA1c value less than 7.0 % ; had uncontrolled hypertension ( blood pressure > 180/110 mm Hg ) ; had unstable angina ( class 4 ) ; had had a myocardial infa rct ion in the past 3 months ; had had two or more episodes of seizures ; had alcoholism or drug abuse documented in the chart ; had late-stage complications of diabetes or other chronic conditions , such as severe immunodeficiency or cirrhosis ; were pregnant or were planning to become pregnant in the next 12 months ; or were unable to perform self-management . Patients were r and omly assigned in blocks to either the nurse case management ( intervention ) group or the usual care group . R and omization was based on a 1:1 allocation ratio and a block size of three . Each block contained six patients , three in each study group . This r and omization scheme ensured that the desired allocation ratio-one intervention patient to one usual care patient-was maintained after sequential enrollment of every sixth patient . Outcome Measures Change in HbA1c value was the primary outcome measure . Decreased HbA1c values correlate directly with reduced risk for diabetes-related microvascular and neuropathic complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes [ 1 , 3 ] . We also assessed health-related quality of life by using four generic questions developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System ( BRFSS ) [ 13 , 14 ] . These questions evaluate key conceptual domains of health-related quality of life : 1 ) patient-perceived general health status , 2 ) patient-perceived physical dysfunction during the previous 30 days , 3 ) patient-perceived mental dysfunction during the previous 30 days , and 4 ) patient-perceived functional incapacity during the previous 30 days for either mental or physical reasons . The BRFSS quality -of-life measures have been vali date d in a national sample of adults in the United States [ 15 ] . Patient-perceived health was found to be a good proxy indicator for chronic disease conditions . The other three domains further characterize general health functioning and quality of life [ 15 ] . In this analysis , we report findings related to the patient-perceived general health status domain . Intervention and Follow-up The nurse case manager was a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator . She was trained to follow a set of detailed management algorithms under the direction of a board-certified family medicine physician and an endocrinologist who were responsible for all diabetes management decisions for patients in the intervention group but were not primary care providers for these patients . The algorithms were specific for type of diabetes and were developed by a multidisciplinary team on which endocrinology , family medicine , nursing , pharmacy , health services research , and epidemiology were represented . The algorithms progressively moved a patient toward improvement of glycemic control through adjustments in medication , meal planning , and reinforcement of exercise ( Figure 1 ) . Figure 1 . Algorithm for management of type 2 diabetes mellitus . Patients assigned to receive nurse case management met with the nurse for an initial assessment , were instructed about a blood glucose monitoring schedule , and returned for a follow-up visit 2 weeks later . The initial visit with the nurse averaged 45 minutes . At the 2-week follow-up visit , the nurse review ed the patient 's blood glucose log ; explained the algorithm step to which the patient had been assigned ; and used this information as the baseline for subsequent medication adjustments , meal planning , and exercise reinforcement . Patients receiving nurse case management  were also referred to a 5-week , 12-hour diabetes education program that included individual counseling by a dietitian , individual counseling by an exercise therapist , and group diabetes education classes . Subsequent in-person follow-up visits occurred quarterly . Patients in the nurse case management group  who were taking insulin  received weekly follow-up telephone calls . After the nurse review ed the blood glucose log and discussed glucose values with the patient , medication regimens were adjusted as needed and meal planning and exercise were reinforced . Patients treated with oral agents or diet and exercise  received follow-up telephone calls every 2 weeks . The nurse case manager met at least biweekly with the family medicine physician and the endocrinologist to review patient progress , medication adjustments , and other issues related to diabetes care . All medication adjustments or changes were communicated to the patients ' regular primary care physicians . Patients assigned to receive usual care were given blood glucose meters and strips , were encouraged to discuss enrollment in the diabetes education class with their physicians if they had not done so in the past year , and continued to receive diabetes care and follow-up from their primary care physicians . The 5-week diabetes education program is a st and ard , free-of-charge benefit for all HMO members with diabetes . All Jacksonville Health Care Group primary care physicians participate in an annual diabetes care seminar and undergo regular peer review of their adherence to published diabetes care st and ards . Tests to BACKGROUND To study the effects of two different structured shared care interventions , tailored to local needs and re sources , in an unselected patient population with type 2 diabetes mellitus . METHODS A three-year prospect i ve observational study of two interventions and st and ard care . The interventions involved extensive ( A ) or limited ( B ) task delegation from general practitioners to hospital-liaised nurses specialised in diabetes and included a diabetes register , structured recall , facilitated generalist-specialist communication , audit and feedback , patient-specific reminders , and emphasised patient education . The target population consisted of 2660 patients with type 2 diabetes treated in the primary care setting . Patients who were terminally ill or who had been diagnosed with dementia were excluded from the study . RESULTS The participation rates were high ( 90 % ) for patients , and none of the 64 GPs discontinued their participation in the study . Longitudinal analyses showed significant improvements in quality indicators for both intervention groups ( process parameters and achieved target values on the individual patient level ) ; in st and ard care , performance remained stable or deteriorated . Both patients and caregivers appeared satisfied with the project . CONCLUSION This study shows that structured shared care with task delegation to nurses , targeted at a large unselected general practice population , is feasible and can positively affect the quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of specialist nurse delivered education in primary care to improve control of hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in patients with diabetes . DESIGN AND SETTING Practice -level r and omized controlled trial , Salford , Engl and . SUBJECTS From 44 practice s , 10 303 subjects presenting in general practice with raised blood pressure (= 140/80 mmHg ) , raised total cholesterol (= 5.0 mmol/l ) or both . INTERVENTIONS Practice s were r and omized to receive either the intervention for hyperlipidaemia or for hypertension ; practice s acted as control for the intervention not received . Specialist nurses arranged a schedule of visits with general practitioners and general practice nurses , reminding them of diabetes protocol s and clinical targets . They provided educational material s and protocol s used in secondary care for nurse and doctor interventions including stepping up pharmacotherapy when necessary . Practice s received a list of patients in their practice who were poorly controlled at their last annual review ; new and recalled patients were targeted . OUTCOME MEASURES At subsequent annual review , blood pressure and total cholesterol values were obtained from the Salford electronic diabetes register for patients from participating practice s. RESULTS Overall , specialist nurse-led educational outreach to primary care was associated with no improvement in patients achieving target after 1 year-odds ratio ( OR ) : 1.03 ( 95 % CI 0.95 - 1.11 ; P = 0.52 ) . Similar results were achieved with hyperlipidaemia OR : 1.04 ( 95 % CI 0.88 - 1.23 ; P = 0.62 ) and hypertension OR : 1.01 ( 95 % CI 0.80 - 1.27 ; P = 0.93 ) . CONCLUSION This study provides evidence that the use of specialist nurses to perform educational outreach to improve target adherence to patients with diabetes in primary care is not effective Background Self-management support for people with type 2 diabetes is essential in diabetes care . Thus , mobile health technology with or without low-intensity theory-based health counseling could become an important tool for promoting self-management . Objectives The aim was to evaluate whether the introduction of technology-supported self-management using the Few Touch Application ( FTA ) diabetes diary with or without health counseling improved glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) levels , self-management , behavioral change , and health-related quality of life , and to describe the sociodemographic , clinical , and lifestyle characteristics of the participants after 4 months . Methods A 3-armed r and omized controlled trial was conducted in Norway during 2011 - 2013 . In the 2 intervention groups , participants were given a mobile phone for 1 year , which provided access to the FTA diary , a self-help tool that recorded 5 elements : blood glucose , food habits , physical activity , personal goal setting , and a look-up system for diabetes information . One of the intervention groups was also offered theory-based health counseling with a specialist diabetes nurse by telephone for 4 months from baseline . Both intervention groups and the  control group were provided usual care according to the national guidelines . Adults with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c ≥7.1 % were included ( N=151 ) . There were 3 assessment points : baseline , 4 months , and 1 year . We report the short-term findings after 4 months . HbA1c was the primary outcome and the secondary outcomes were self-management ( Health Education Impact Question naire , heiQ ) , behavioral change ( diet and physical activity ) , and health-related quality of life ( SF-36 question naire ) . The data were analyzed using univariate methods ( ANOVA ) , multivariate linear , and logistic regression . Results Data were analyzed from 124 individuals ( attrition rate was 18 % ) . The groups were well balanced at baseline . There were no differences in HbA1c between groups after 4 months , but there was a decline in all groups . There were changes in self-management measured using the health service navigation item in the heiQ , with improvements in the FTA group compared to the control group ( P=.01 ) and in the FTA with health counseling group compared with both other groups ( P=.04 ) . This may indicate an improvement in the ability of patients to communicate health needs to their health care providers . Furthermore , the FTA group reported higher scores for skill and technique acquisition at relieving symptoms compared to the control group ( P=.02 ) . There were no significant changes in any of the domains of the SF-36 . Conclusions The primary outcome , HbA1c , did not differ between groups after 4 months . Both of the intervention groups had significantly better scores than the control group for health service navigation and the FTA group also exhibited improved skill and technique acquisition Background In Australia , diabetes was identified as a national health priority area in 1996 ; nevertheless the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically since then . Nurses have been working within Australian general practice s for several decades but only in recent years has the role of the practice nurse in primary health care increased . Objectives This review aims to identify the effectiveness of nurse‐led care in general practice as compared to general practitioner care on clinical outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes . Inclusion criteria Types of participants Participants were adults ( aged > 18 years ) , with diabetes type 2 attending a general/family practice . Types of intervention Interventions of interest include nurse‐led care in general practice in which the nurse is identified as taking a lead role in the care of patients with type 2 diabetes compared to general practitioner‐led care . Types of studies To evaluate the effectiveness of nurse‐led diabetes care in general practice , this review sought r and omised controlled trials as the study design of choice . Other research design s such as controlled clinical trials , interrupted time series and controlled before and after design s were also considered . Types of outcomes The outcomes of interest were clinical outcomes including changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure , body mass index , cholesterol levels , HbA1c ( glycated haemoglobin ) and fasting blood glucose . Search strategy A three step literature search was conducted for English language articles from January 1990 to December 2011 . Method ological quality Quantitative papers selected for retrieval were assessed by two independent review ers for method ological validity prior to inclusion in the review using st and ardised critical appraisal instruments from the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument . Data collection Quantitative data was extracted from papers included in the review using the st and ardised data extraction tool from the Joanna Briggs Institute . The data extracted included specific details about the interventions , population s , study methods and outcomes of significance to the review question and specific objectives . Data synthesis Data from quantitative papers , where possible , were pooled in statistical meta‐ analysis using the Meta‐ Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument . Additionally , RevMan 5 was used for presenting forest plots of the meta‐ analysis . Results The electronic search yielded 804 potentially relevant papers of which 49 papers appeared to satisfy the criteria for inclusion and full texts of these papers were assessed against the inclusion criteria by two independent review ers . From these papers , five were included in the review , four r and omised control trials and one quasi‐experimental study . These articles provided evidence that nurse‐led care improves blood pressure and cholesterol levels for patients with type 2 diabetes attending a general practice . Conclusions There is some evidence to support the use of nurse‐led care in general practice for patients with type 2 diabetes . Implication s for Practice If nurse‐led care is implemented in the care of people with type 2 diabetes consideration needs to be given to the use of clinical algorithms , goal setting , individualised care plans , self management and follow up of lifestyle risk factors . Implication for Research More r and omised controlled trials are required to assess the efficacy of nurse‐led care including cost effectiveness UNLABELLED This review should be cited as : Renders CM , Valk GD , Griffin S. Wagner EH , Eijk JThM van , Assendelft WJJ . Interventions to improve the management of  diabetes mellitus  in primary care , outpatient and community setting s ( Cochrane Review ) . In : The Cochrane Library , Issue 2 , 2001 . Oxford : Up date Software . A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 29 June 2000 . Cochrane review s are regularly checked and up date d if necessary . BACKGROUND Diabetes is a common chronic disease that is increasingly managed in primary care . Different systems have been proposed to manage diabetes care . OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of different interventions , targeted at health professionals or the structure in which they deliver care , on the management of patients with diabetes in primary care , outpatient and community setting s. SEARCH STRATEGY We search ed the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group specialised register , the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register ( Issue 4 1999 ) , MEDLINE ( 1966 - 1999 ) , EMBASE ( 1980 - 1999 ) , Cinahl ( 1982 - 1999 ) , and reference lists of articles . SELECTION CRITERIA R and omised trials ( RCTs ) , controlled clinical trials ( CCTs ) , controlled before and after studies ( CBAs ) and interrupted time series ( ITS ) analyses of professional , financial and organisational strategies aim ed at improving care for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes . The participants were health care professionals , including physicians , nurses and pharmacists . The outcomes included objective ly measured health professional performance or patient outcomes , and self-report measures with known validity and reliability . DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review ers independently extracted data and assessed study quality . MAIN RESULTS Forty-one studies were included involving more than 200 practice s and 48,000 patients . Twenty-seven studies were RCTs , 12 were CBAs , and two were ITS . The studies were heterogeneous in terms of interventions , participants , setting s and outcomes . The method ological quality of the studies was often poor . In all studies the intervention strategy was multifaceted . In 12 studies the interventions were targeted at health professionals , in nine they were targeted at the organization of care , and 20 studies targeted both . In 15 studies patient education was added to the professional and organisational interventions . A combination of professional interventions improved process outcomes . The effect on patient outcomes remained less clear as these were rarely assessed . Arrangements for follow-up ( organisational intervention ) also showed a favourable effect on process outcomes . Multiple interventions in which patient education was added or in which the role of the nurse was enhanced also reported favourable effects on patients ' health outcomes . REVIEW ERS ' CONCLUSION : Multifaceted professional interventions can enhance the performance of health professionals in managing patients with diabetes .  Organisational interventions that improve regular prompted recall and review of patients  ( central computerised tracking systems or nurses who regularly contact the patient ) can also improve diabetes management . The addition of patient-oriented interventions can lead to improved patient health outcomes . Nurses can play an important role in patient-oriented interventions , through patient education or facilitating adherence to treatment Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of biopsychosocial Self-Management Support ( SMS ) delivered by practice nurses in routine diabetes care . Design A pragmatic cluster-r and omised controlled trial within a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study design . Practice nurses were cluster-r and omised . Setting A regional care group in the Netherl and s consisting of 77 family practice s. The study involved practice nurses ( n=40 ) providing care to approximately 4000 patients with diabetes . Participants Patients with type 2 diabetes ( n=264 ) selected by a self-administered question naire aim ed at measuring emotional distress and diabetes-related reduced daily functioning . Intervention Practice nurses in the intervention arm ( n=19 ) were trained to integrate SMS into their routine consultations . SMS included detection of patients with emotional distress and reduced daily functioning , and supporting them when needed through problem solving and reattribution techniques . Practice nurses in the control arm ( n=21 ) provided usual care . Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was a dichotomised score on a Visual Analogue Scale that measured the perceived effect of diabetes on daily functioning . Secondary measures included patients ’ diabetes-related distress , quality of life , autonomy and participation , self-efficacy , self-management and glycaemic control . Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 4-month and 12-month follow-ups . Results Only 16 of the 117 patients in the intervention arm ( 14 % ) who were found eligible by the posted research -driven screening question naire were detected by their practice nurses . Extra consultations for the self-management support were delivered to only 11 study participants . In the control arm , 147 patients received usual care . Multilevel analyses showed no significant differences in outcomes between the intervention and control arms . Conclusions SMS in its present form was not effective . The research -driven screening to select trial participants appeared to be inconsistent with nurse-led detection in routine practice . Adequate follow-up moments need to be built in to overcome barriers result ing from tension between the implementation and effectiveness parts of hybrid studies . Trial registration number Current Controlled Trials NTR2764 Background When depression accompanies diabetes , it complicates treatment , portends worse outcomes and increases health care costs . A collaborative care case-management model , previously tested in an urban managed care organization in the US , achieved significant reduction of depressive symptoms , improved diabetes disease control and patient-reported outcomes , and saved money . While impressive , these findings need to be replicated and extended to other healthcare setting s. Our objective is to comprehensively evaluate a collaborative care model for comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes within a Canadian primary care setting . Methods / design We initiated the TeamCare model in four Primary Care Networks in Northern Alberta . The intervention involves a nurse care manager guiding patient-centered care with family physicians and consultant physician specialists to monitor progress and develop tailored care plans .  Patients eligible for the intervention will be identified using the Patient  Health  Question naire-9 as a screen for depressive symptoms . Care managers will then guide patients through three phases : 1 ) improving depressive symptoms  , 2 ) improving blood glucose , blood pressure and cholesterol  , and 3 ) improving lifestyle behaviors .  We will employ the RE- AIM framework for a comprehensive and mixed- methods approach to our evaluation . Effectiveness will be assessed using a controlled “ on-off ” trial design , whereby eligible patients would be alternately enrolled in the TeamCare intervention or usual care on a monthly basis . All patients will be assessed at baseline , 6 and 12 months . Our primary analyses will be based on changes in two outcomes : depressive symptoms , and a multivariable , scaled marginal model for the combined outcome of global disease control ( i.e. , A1c , systolic blood pressure , LDL cholesterol ) . Our planned enrolment of 168 patients will provide greater than 80 % power to observe clinical ly important improvements in all measured outcomes . Direct costing of all intervention components and measurement of all health care utilization using linked administrative data bases will be used to determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention relative to usual care . Discussion Our comprehensive evaluation will generate evidence to reliability , effectiveness and sustainability of this collaborative care model for patients with chronic diseases and depression . Trials registration Clintrials.gov Identifier : Aim : To verify if Group Care , a model to manage Type 2 diabetes ( T2DM ) by systemic continuing group education , can be administered by nurses and dieticians under pedagogic guidance , and improve metabolic control , quality of life , Locus of Control , and insulin resistance . Material and subjects : Twenty-five patients with non-insulin-treated T2DM were r and omized to Group Care and 24 to continued habitual individual care and education delivered by a diabetes specialist and pedagogist , respectively . Six nurses and 1 dietician received training by an accredited programme , a detailed operating manual and pedagogical supervision throughout the study . Follow-up was for 2 yr and included measurements of fasting blood glucose , glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c ) , body mass index , waist circumference , lipids , creatinine , blood pressure , serum insulin , homeostasis model assessment ( HOMA ) index of insulin resistance , health behaviors , quality of life , state and trait anxiety , and Locus of Control . Results : One patient on Group Care and 3 controls dropped out . At the end of study , the patients on Group Care had lower HbA1c ( 7.6± 0.8 vs 8.4± 1.3 , p<0.05 ) , insulin ( 18.0± 9.6 vs 24.3± 13.7 , p<0.001 ) , HOMA index ( 6.9± 5.4 vs 9.2± 6.6 , p<0.05 ) , and fatalistic attitude ( 17.2± 5.9 vs 24.9± 4.2 , p<0.001 ) and better quality of life ( 65.0± 11.0 vs 78.4± 19.6 , p<0.001 ) than controls . Conclusions : Group Care delivered by trained nurses and dietitan is associated with better outcomes than those obtained by a medically and pedagogically qualified team . It may offer a model for health operators to re-organize clinical practice and for patients to improve lifestyle and strengthen the therapeutic alliance with their carers Background Despite the efforts of the healthcare community to improve the quality of diabetes care , about 50 % of people with type 2 diabetes do not reach their treatment targets , increasing the risk of future micro- and macro-vascular complications . Diabetes self-management education has been shown to contribute to better disease control . However , it is not known which strategies involving educational programs are cost-effective . Telehealth applications might support chronic disease management . Transferability of successful distant patient self-management support programs to the Belgian setting needs to be confirmed by studies of a high method ological quality . “ The COACH Program ” was developed in Australia as target driven educational telephone delivered intervention to support people with different chronic conditions . It proved to be effective in patients with coronary heart disease after hospitalization . Clinical and cost-effectiveness of The COACH Program in people with type 2 diabetes in Belgium needs to be assessed . Methods / Design R and omized controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes . Patients were selected based on their medication consumption data and were recruited by their sickness fund . They were r and omized to receive either usual care plus “ The COACH Program ” or usual care alone . The study will assess the difference in outcomes between groups . The primary outcome measure is the level of HbA1c . The secondary outcomes are : Total Cholesterol , LDL-Cholesterol , HDL-Cholesterol , Triglycerides , Blood Pressure , body mass index , smoking status ; proportion of people at target for HbA1c , LDL-Cholesterol and Blood Pressure ; self-perceived health status , diabetes-specific emotional distress and satisfaction with diabetes care . The follow-up period is 18 months . Within-trial and modeled cost-utility analyses , to project effects over life-time horizon beyond the trial duration , will be undertaken from the perspective of the health care system if the intervention is effective . Discussion The study will enhance our underst and ing of the potential of telehealth in diabetes management in Belgium . Research on the clinical effectiveness and the cost-effectiveness is essential to support policy makers in future reimbursement and implementation decisions . Trial registration Belgian number : B322201213625 . Clinical Trials.gov Identifier : In recent years , great emphasis has been placed on the role of nonpharmacological self-management in the care of patients with diabetes . Studies have reported that nurses , compared to other healthcare professionals , are more likely to promote preventive healthcare seeking behaviors . The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a nurse-led diabetes self-management education on glycosylated hemoglobin . A two-arm parallel-group r and omized controlled trial with the blinded outcome assessors was design ed . One hundred forty-two adults with type 2 diabetes were r and omized to receive either usual diabetes care ( control group ) or usual care plus a nurse-led diabetes self-management education ( intervention group ) . Duration of the intervention was 12 weeks . The primary outcome was glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c values ) . Secondary outcomes were changes in blood pressure , body weight , lipid profiles , self-efficacy ( efficacy expectation and outcome expectation ) , self-management behaviors , quality of life , social support , and depression . Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at 12-week and 24-week postr and omizations . Patients in the intervention group showed significant improvement in HbA1c , blood pressure , body weight , efficacy expectation , outcome expectation , and diabetes self-management behaviors . The beneficial effect of a nurse-led intervention continued to accrue beyond the end of the trial result ing in sustained improvements in clinical , lifestyle , and psychosocial outcomes . This trial is registered with I RCT 2016062528627N1 BACKGROUND A new diabetes shared care service was introduced in North Dublin . It was design ed as a r and omized controlled trial with a complex intervention comprising education of participating practitioners , the introduction of a community-based diabetes nurse specialist , local agreement on clinical protocol s and structured communication across the primary - secondary care interface . OBJECTIVES Our aim was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a structured diabetes shared care service in a mixed health care system and to analyse the impact on total patient care . METHODS A Cluster r and omized controlled trial lasting 18 months was carried out in 183 patients with type 2 diabetes from 30 general practice s in North Dublin . Biophysical outcomes ( HbA1c , blood pressure , body mass index ) , psychosocial measures ( smoking status and Diabetes Clinic Treatment Satisfaction and Diabetes Well-being scores ) and process outcomes were collected . RESULTS There were significant improvements in diabetes care delivery and in psychosocial outcomes , but no significant improvements in biomedical outcomes . Process data collection revealed a significant increase in diabetes care-related activity for participating patients with an increase in structured annual review s and fewer patients defaulting from care . There were also significant improvements in information exchange between primary and secondary care . CONCLUSION Structured diabetes shared care , in a mixed health care system , can produce significant improvements in diabetes care delivery and in psychosocial outcomes for patients , with improved information exchange across the primary - secondary care interface
Where reported , emergency admissions and quality of life were not found to be significantly different between groups .
No information was found regarding BMI , mortality , long term diabetic complications , adverse effects , or costs .
REVIEW ER 'S CONCLUSIONS The presence of a diabetes specialist nurse / nurse case manager may improve patients ' diabetic control over short time periods , but from currently available trials the effects over longer periods of time are not evident .
There were no significant differences overall in hypoglycaemic episodes , hyperglycaemic incidents , or hospital admissions .
Quality of life was not shown to be affected by input from a diabetes specialist nurse/nurse case manager
BACKGROUND The patient with diabetes has many different learning needs relating to diet , monitoring , and treatments .
In many health care systems specialist nurses provide much of these needs , usually aim ing to empower patients to self-manage their diabetes .
The present review aims to assess the effects of the involvement of specialist nurse care on outcomes for  people with diabetes  , compared to usual care in hospital clinics or primary care with no input from specialist nurses .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of diabetes specialist nurses / nurse case manager in diabetes on the metabolic control of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus .