Key Factors Relevant for Healthcare Decisions of Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Secondary Care According to Healthcare Professionals

Merel M Ruissen,1– 3 Jacob K Sont,2 Heidi A van Vugt,4,5 Marleen Kunneman,2,3 Guy EHM Rutten,4 Eelco JP de Koning1 1Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; 2Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Section of Medical Decision Making, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; 3Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 4Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Department of General Practice, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; 5Dutch Diabetes Federation, Amersfoort, the NetherlandsCorrespondence: Eelco JP de Koning, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands, Tel +31 71 52 62085, Fax +31 71 52 66881, Email e.j.p.de_koning@lumc.nlPurpose: Understanding which factors are important for healthcare decisions of patients with diabetes in clinical practice is important to personalise diabetes care strategies and tailor care plans to the individual. The main drivers for these healthcare decisions remain unclear. This study assessed which key factors are relevant for healthcare decisions during clinical consultations for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), according to healthcare professionals.Materials and Methods: Annual diabetes reviews were performed as part of a trial assessing the impact of a consultation model facilitating person-centred diabetes care in six hospital outpatient clinics. After each consultation, we asked healthcare professionals to choose a maximum of three out of 20 factors that were most relevant for healthcare decisions about treatment goals and the professional support needed during the upcoming year. Factors were characterised as either person or disease-related. Percentages reflect the number of annual diabetes reviews in which the key factor was reported.Results: Seventeen physicians and eight diabetes specialist nurses reported t