RESUMO
AIM: The aim of this study was to assess differences in cardiovascular risk and performance of self-care activities in people who rated their diabetes control as good or poor. METHODS: A sub-sample of 77 participants who took part in the Evaluation of Diabetes Treatment telephone interview were invited into a clinic to complete a series of laboratory examinations. Self-rated diabetes control was validated using the following laboratory markers: HbA1c, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and LDL cholesterol. Differences in blood pressure and BMI were also assessed. Finally, all participants also completed the Summary of Self-Care activities questionnaire. RESULTS: Those people who rated their diabetes control as fair or poor had a significantly higher BMI, HbA1c levels, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and systolic blood pressure. When asked about self-care activities in the past week, those people who reported their diabetes control was fair/poor had spent significantly fewer days following a general diet and exercising. CONCLUSIONS: People with poor self-rated diabetes control have unfavourable cardiovascular risk and decreased performance of self-care activities.
Assuntos
Doenças Cardiovasculares/prevenção & controle , Diabetes Mellitus/prevenção & controle , Autocuidado/métodos , Adulto , Idoso , Glicemia/metabolismo , Pressão Sanguínea/fisiologia , Índice de Massa Corporal , Doenças Cardiovasculares/sangue , Doenças Cardiovasculares/fisiopatologia , Colesterol/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus/sangue , Diabetes Mellitus/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Hemoglobinas Glicadas/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Autocuidado/normas , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosAssuntos
Desenvolvimento Infantil , Destreza Motora/fisiologia , Fatores Etários , Colorado , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Programas de Rastreamento , Quebeque , País de GalesRESUMO
A survey of adolescents with a chronic disease attending six specialty clinics was conducted to determine the sources of their primary health care and to estimate the extent of unmet health needs. Sixty-one patients completed a self-administered questionnaire. Forty percent had no source of primary care other than the subspecialty clinic treating their chronic condition. Seventy-eight percent regarded the subspecialist as their "personal" physician, although only 27% actually spoke to this physician about their general health needs. For 44% general health needs were not being met. These findings suggest that these adolescents expect the subspecialty clinic to provide primary care; yet they receive, at best, fragmented health care. This situation could be improved by a decision on the part of the subspecialty to restrict its role to providing only specific specialty care or to coordinate overall care.