[Effects of Nurse-Led Team Management on Type 2 Diabetes Patients in the Community].

BACKGROUND: Managing increasing numbers of diabetic patients is placing increasing pressure on healthcare providers, especially general practitioners, who usually serve in multiple roles. This situation has caused generally poor results in terms of diabetes management. However, community nurses in some countries have successfully and effectively controlled chronic diseases among their patients. Therefore, the effects of nurse-led management is worth further exploration in order to better understand and promote this mode of care.

PURPOSE: To explore the effects of community-nurse-led team management on diabetes patients.

METHODS: An experimental research design was adopted. Patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited from two community health centers (the first for the intervention group, the second for the control group) in Wuhou District, Chengdu City, China. The intervention group received nurse-led team management care for 2 years, while the control group received standard care. The evaluations were conducted before the intervention and at 6, 12, and 24 months into the intervention. Outcomes included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, body mass index, waist circumference, visual acuity, ankle brachial index, kidney function index, urinary protein level, and electrocardiogram.

RESULTS: The 179 participants included 88 in the intervention group and 91 in the control group. After the intervention, HbA1c level, ankle brachial index, and waist circumference were all significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group (F = 28.894, p < .01; F = 4.065, p < .01; F = 5.540, p < .01). The other outcome variables remained statistically similar between both groups throughout the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: Community nurse-led team management is an effective mode of care in terms of controlling blood glucose control and preventing diabetes-related complications.