OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus who knew their personal and target glycosylated hemoglobin (AIC), blood pressure, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (ABC) levels and the proportion of patients whose recalled ABC levels were below targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: 35 community and clinic pharmacies in May 2003 through May 2004. PARTICIPANTS: 132 student pharmacists in Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care Clerkship who recruited a convenience sample of 816 evaluable patients with diabetes. INTERVENTION: Student-administered questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' self-reported and target ABC values and comparison of these with recommended ADA guidelines. RESULTS: The greatest number of patients were able to recall their personal blood pressure level (68%), followed by A1C (53%) and LDL-C (23%). Of those who knew their levels, one-half or fewer were within ADA targets for one or more ABCs. Only 1% of patients who were able to provide ABC levels were below all three ADA target values. Patients were most likely to provide an A1C target (43%), followed by blood pressure (35%) and LDL-C (21%). CONCLUSIONS: While almost three-quarters of the patients identified in community pharmacies knew their blood pressure levels, one-half or fewer knew their A1C or LDL-C levels. Fewer than 50% of patients reported even one ABC target number. Pharmacists should take advantage of this educational opportunity by working with patients with diabetes to increase their knowledge of these ABCs.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus who knew their personal and target glycosylated hemoglobin (AIC), blood pressure, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (ABC) levels and the proportion of patients whose recalled ABC levels were below targets set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: 35 community and clinic pharmacies in May 2003 through May 2004. PARTICIPANTS: 132 student pharmacists in Ambulatory Pharmaceutical Care Clerkship who recruited a convenience sample of 816 evaluable patients with diabetes. INTERVENTION: Student-administered questionnaires. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' self-reported and target ABC values and comparison of these with recommended ADA guidelines. RESULTS: The greatest number of patients were able to recall their personal blood pressure level (68%), followed by A1C (53%) and LDL-C (23%). Of those who knew their levels, one-half or fewer were within ADA targets for one or more ABCs. Only 1% of patients who were able to provide ABC levels were below all three ADA target values. Patients were most likely to provide an A1C target (43%), followed by blood pressure (35%) and LDL-C (21%). CONCLUSIONS: While almost three-quarters of the patients identified in community pharmacies knew their blood pressure levels, one-half or fewer knew their A1C or LDL-C levels. Fewer than 50% of patients reported even one ABC target number. Pharmacists should take advantage of this educational opportunity by working with patients with diabetes to increase their knowledge of these ABCs.
Authors: Sarah D Corathers; Jessica C Kichler; Nora F Fino; Wei Lang; Jean M Lawrence; Jennifer K Raymond; Joyce P Yi-Frazier; Dana Dabelea; Angela D Liese; Sharon H Saydah; Michael Seid; Lawrence M Dolan Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2016-10-13 Impact factor: 4.267