The most significant effect observed is with the change from baseline results .
Some evidence suggests post-intervention and change from baseline systolic blood pressure improvement at the nine to twelve month interval and change from baseline improvement at the 4 year timeframe .
There is no evidence that group visits improve LDL cholesterol values of the group visit participants .
IMPLICATION S FOR PRACTICE The evidence suggests that the most powerful model of Group medical visits ( GMV ) is when a clinician prescriber is present during or immediately after GMV sessions for medication reconciliation or individual patient needs .
BACKGROUND The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is ubiquitous .
Complications and costs of diabetes are rising and are depleting limited re sources .
It is imperative for healthcare professionals and patients alike to confront this chronic condition by exploring new interventions .
An innovative health care delivery model has emerged in the last 25 years in the form of the group medical visit .
Group medical visits can range from of six to twenty patients scheduled together with time allotted for individual care as well as in the group setting .
Lifestyle intervention by group care prevents deterioration of Type II diabetes: a 4-year randomized controlled clinical trial
Abstract Aims /hypothesis . Metabolic control worsens progressively in Type II ( non-insulin-dependent ) diabetes mellitus despite intensified pharmacological treatment and lifestyle intervention , when these are implemented on a one-to-one basis . We compared traditional individual diabetes care with a model in which routine follow-up is managed by interactive group visits while individual consultations are reserved for emerging medical problems and yearly checks for complications . Methods . A r and omized controlled clinical trial of 56 patients with non-insulin-treated Type II diabetes managed by systemic group education and 56 control patients managed by individual consultations and education .  Results . Observation times were 51.2±2.1 months for group care and 51.2±1.8 for control subjects . Glycated haemoglobin increased in the control group but not in the group of patients ( p<0.001 ) , in whom BMI decreased ( p<0.001 ) and HDL-cholesterol increased ( p<0.001 ) . Quality of life , knowledge of diabetes and health behaviours improved with group care ( p<0.001 , all ) and worsened among the control patients ( p=0.004 to p<0.001 ) . Dosage of hypoglycaemic agents decreased ( p<0.001 ) and retinopathy progressed less ( p<0.009 ) among the group care patients than the control subjects . Diastolic blood pressure ( p<0.001 ) and relative cardiovascular risk ( p<0.05 ) decreased from baseline in group patients and control patients alike . Over the study period , group care required 196 min and 756.54 US $ per patient , compared with 150 min and 665.77 US $ for the control patients , result ing in an additional 2.12 US $ spent per point gained in the quality of life score . Conclusion /interpretation . Group care by systemic education is feasible in an ordinary diabetes clinic and cost-effective in preventing the deterioration of metabolic control and quality of life in Type II diabetes without increasing pharmacological treatment
The most significant effect observed is with the change from baseline results .
Some evidence suggests post-intervention and change from baseline systolic blood pressure improvement at the nine to twelve month interval and change from baseline improvement at the 4 year timeframe .
There is no evidence that group visits improve LDL cholesterol values of the group visit participants .
IMPLICATION S FOR PRACTICE The evidence suggests that the most powerful model of Group medical visits ( GMV ) is when a clinician prescriber is present during or immediately after GMV sessions for medication reconciliation or individual patient needs .
BACKGROUND The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is ubiquitous .
Complications and costs of diabetes are rising and are depleting limited re sources .
It is imperative for healthcare professionals and patients alike to confront this chronic condition by exploring new interventions .
An innovative health care delivery model has emerged in the last 25 years in the form of the group medical visit .
Group medical visits can range from of six to twenty patients scheduled together with time allotted for individual care as well as in the group setting .