Improving patient problem solving to reduce barriers to diabetes self-management

Abstract

Few topics are more important than patient adherence in improving long-term outcomes and reducing avoidable health care costs. Problem-solving skills have a central role in improving patient adherence. Barriers to providing problem-solving support within the clinic are time, resources, and limited referral options for feasible and disseminated programs. More recent self-management programs that include problem solving typically involve minimal clinic time and resources, with most of the patient activities monitored and implemented outside of the clinic. Priorities that have been identified to improve patient referral options include increasing diabetes translational research, creating programs that are feasible across clinical settings, and creating interventions that are sustainable.53 Once these priorities have been manifested in effective and adaptable programs, clinicians will be able to select and implement feasible interventions that are appropriate for their settings, resources, and populations.