Validation of an Integrated Attention Model for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

1. Background: There are major deficiencies in the attention quality provided to people with diabetes in Mexico. The percentage of compliance of therapeutic objectives is noticeably lower than the one informed in developed countries. It is required to have structured management strategies, adapted to traits of our population, which allow improving attention quality in the medium term. The National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) developed an integrated management program by using the best evidence available. The target population is people with type 2 diabetes, with less than 5 years with the diagnosis, and is free from chronic complications. Selection criteria allow the intervention benefit to diminish incidence of chronic complications.
2. Hypothesis: "The management strategy applied at the Center of Comprehensive Care for the Patient with Diabetes (CAIPaDi) allows achieving the international treatment standards (proposed by NCQA) in a two-year period".
3. General and Specific objectives:

General objective: To quantify the results one year after starting the integrated management program oriented to self-care activities applied at CAIPaDi.

Specific objectives:

• To measure the program impact (after 4 months, one and two years) based on the following variables: self-care (measured with standardized questionnaires), efficacy parameters (HbA1c, fasting glycemia, blood lipids, arterial pressure and use of anti-platelet aggregates), execution parameters (compliance of evaluations and preventive measures such as the search for microalbuminuria, ophthalmologic check, influenza vaccination, among others), incidence of micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes, hospitalizations, use of emergency service or unforeseen expenses related to diabetes.
• To compare the efficacy and execution parameters of the cases attended at the center, with patients with similar characteristics attended at the "Internal Medicine" service of the INCMNSZ.
• To carry out a study of the social-economic impact of the intervention.

4. Goals: It is intended to validate an intervention that provides integrated attention to people with diabetes, in order to generate in the patient and his/her family, the competencies required for self-care in the long term and the prevention of chronic characteristics. Intervention is low-cost. This characteristic, along with the intervention systematization will allow the model to be exportable to the first-contact units.
5. Scientific Methodology: CAIPaDi has the mission of improving quality of life of patients with diabetes by means of an intervention adapted to the needs of patients, applying step-by-step action programs".

Intervention consists of four monthly visits, each one being 6 hours long. The visits have individual and group sessions. The nine specialists in the multidisciplinary team are endocrinologists, diabetes educator, nutritionists, psychologist, dentists, psychiatrist, specialist in physical activity, ophthalmologist and foot care. Some of the functions may be fulfilled by the same health professional, previously trained.

At each session, standardized actions are applied, which are assessed with preset indicators. At the initial and at yearly visits the following laboratory tests are taken: glycated hemoglobin, blood chemistry, lipid profile, liver function tests, albumin-creatinine index in an isolated urine sample, and 12-deviation electrocardiogram. At the yearly visits the patients receive reinforcement and treatment modifications as needed.