Quality of diabetic care in an urban slum area of Mysore: A community based study

Aims(1)To understand the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of diabetic patients residing in an urban slum, Medhar Block, Bamboo Bazar, Mysore.(2)To determine the proportion of diabetic patients, advised according to standard guidelines.(3)To assess the extent of compliance of the diabetic patients to doctor's advice.(4)To identify reasons for not availing the advised treatment.Materials and MethodsCommunity based cross sectional study was conducted in an urban slum of Mysore. Data was collected between July and August 2011. Known diabetics residing in this area were included in the study. Socio-demographic information of diabetic patients, history, physicians advice and the extent of compliance of patients towards treatment were assessed. Descriptive statistics, like percentages were calculated.ResultsStudy comprised of 104 patients. Mean fasting and post prandial blood glucose was 163 ± 70 mg/dl and 239 ± 89 mg/dl respectively. Common co-morbid conditions were hypertension and obesity. Key process indicators of care, indicated that adherence to medication advice was maximum and less than one fourth of them had an annual Hba1c and lipid profile examinations.ConclusionsTo prevent long term complications associated with diabetes, doctors must adhere to the guidelines. There is a need to improve the health system, in terms of developing facilities to provide annual eye examination, annual lipid profile, urea, creatinine testing for diabetic patient.