Assessment of quality of care provided to adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus at public hospitals in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia: Facility based Cross‐Sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Proactive management of type 2 diabetes is important for restoring beta‐cell function and improving sustained blood glucose control. Evidence on quality of diabetes care in Ethiopia is inadequate. Method Facility‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted to assess level of quality of care provided to adult type 2 diabetes patients at three public hospitals in Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Results A total of 210 adult type 2 diabetes patients were included. The mean age of patients was 44.1 ± 9.94 years. Fifty‐one (24.3%) of patients adhered to prescribed medicines. Sixty‐seven (31.9%) patients could benefit from neuropathy screening and referral. Diabetes‐specific evidence‐based guidelines, operational plan to reduce overweight and obesity were not available. There was no periodic lipid profile, renal function and glycated haemoglobin testing. Sixty‐three (30%) patients achieved fasting blood glucose (FBG) level. Only 41 (19.5%) achieved the recommended target value for composite intermediate outcomes. All three sub‐components of quality care structure, process and outcome (SPO) were below the agreed minimum score and the quality of care provided to adult type 2 diabetes was poor. Only 41 (19.5%) achieved agreed quality indicator targets for type 2 diabetes (fasting blood glucose blood pressure and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol). Conclusion The quality of care provided to adult type 2 diabetes patients was poor particularly in areas such as availability of evidence‐based guidelines, operational plan to reduce obesity, monitoring of lipid profile and glycaemic control. Therefore, developing strategies for addressing structure, process and outcome‐related gaps by involving all stakeholders is critical for improving the quality of care provided to these patients.

Keywords

• quality of care
• southern Ethiopia
• theory is Donabedian triad model
• type 2 diabetes mellitus