Inter-Professional Communications During Follow-Up of Type 2 Diabetes Patients: An Exploratory Study.

ABSTRACT

Follow-up of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) involves several healthcare professionals. The quality of their communication is crucial for optimizing care. This exploratory work aims to characterize those communications and their problems. Interviews were performed with general practitioners (GP), patients and other professionals. Data were analyzed deductively, and results were structured through a people map. We performed 25 interviews. GP, patients, nurses, community pharmacists, medical specialists and diabetologists are the main actors of the T2DM patients' follow-up. Three communication issues were identified difficulties in reaching the hospital diabetologist, delays in receiving reports, and difficulties for patient to transmit information. Results were discussed in terms of tools, care pathways and new roles to support communications during T2DM patients' follow-up.