Masaaki Matsumoto1,2, Hiroyuki Awano3, Yushi Hirota4, Masashi Nagai1, Ryosuke Bo1, Atsuko Matsuoka4, Tetsushi Hamaguchi4, Takehito Takeuchi4, Yasushi Nakagawa4, Wataru Ogawa4, Kazumoto Iijima1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 6500017, Japan. 2. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Center for Child Health and Development, 2-10-1, Okura, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 6500017, Japan. awahiro@med.kobe-u.ac.jp. 4. Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 6500017, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Hypoglycemia is a common and life-threatening complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Current guidelines recommend glucagon for treating hypoglycemia in out-of-hospital settings; however, glucagon is reportedly underused in such patients. We conducted a doctor-oriented, questionnaire-based survey of pediatricians and physicians to determine the glucagon prescription rate and identify the reason(s) for its underuse in T1DM patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 415 pediatricians and 200 physicians employed at 66 facilities with >100 general wards throughout Hyogo, Japan. The following variables were surveyed: doctor's specialty, glucagon prescription rate, familiarity with glucagon use guidelines, barriers to prescribing glucagon, and attitude changes after education. RESULTS: After 16 doctors were found to have retired, 599 doctors were enrolled; 305 (187 pediatricians and 118 physicians) returned a completed questionnaire. In all, 45 pediatricians and 104 physicians were treating T1DM patients, of whom 24% and 28% reported prescribing glucagon, respectively. The guideline familiarity rate among pediatricians was lower than that among physicians. The major barrier to prescribing glucagon was the complex preparation procedure required by patients/caregivers. More than half of the doctors who did not prescribe glucagon began doing so after being educated about the guidelines. CONCLUSION: The glucagon prescription rate was low among both pediatricians and physicians in Japan.
PURPOSE:Hypoglycemia is a common and life-threatening complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Current guidelines recommend glucagon for treating hypoglycemia in out-of-hospital settings; however, glucagon is reportedly underused in such patients. We conducted a doctor-oriented, questionnaire-based survey of pediatricians and physicians to determine the glucagon prescription rate and identify the reason(s) for its underuse in T1DM patients. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 415 pediatricians and 200 physicians employed at 66 facilities with >100 general wards throughout Hyogo, Japan. The following variables were surveyed: doctor's specialty, glucagon prescription rate, familiarity with glucagon use guidelines, barriers to prescribing glucagon, and attitude changes after education. RESULTS: After 16 doctors were found to have retired, 599 doctors were enrolled; 305 (187 pediatricians and 118 physicians) returned a completed questionnaire. In all, 45 pediatricians and 104 physicians were treating T1DM patients, of whom 24% and 28% reported prescribing glucagon, respectively. The guideline familiarity rate among pediatricians was lower than that among physicians. The major barrier to prescribing glucagon was the complex preparation procedure required by patients/caregivers. More than half of the doctors who did not prescribe glucagon began doing so after being educated about the guidelines. CONCLUSION: The glucagon prescription rate was low among both pediatricians and physicians in Japan.
Entities:
Keywords:
Glucagon; Guideline; Prescription; Type 1 diabetes mellitus
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