Utilising interactive focus groups to improve diabetic management within primary care

Abstract

Health literacy is influential in predicting the future health status of a patient, especially in chronic conditions such as diabetes. Factors influencing health literacy include language barriers. Population data from a general practice where we were on placement demonstrated 31.4% of patients did not speak English as a main language, indicating how language barriers could be affecting their healthcare. A needs analysis survey carried out within the practice showed 26% of patients did not feel confident in managing their diabetes. Our aim was therefore to organise focus group sessions targeting these concerns, with translations and a leaflet being provided. The barriers to effective diabetic management were identified as a lack of understanding of management of the condition, particularly dietary guidance; poor medication adherence; travel and lack of exercise. A leaflet was created in both Arabic and English addressing these areas. Patients with diabetes were recruited to participate in the focus group (n = 20). The intervention was assessed using questionnaire data obtained before and after the focus group. The focus group enabled certain barriers to diabetic management to be overcome with patients showing a improvement in understanding of prescribed medication and patients said they now felt more confident in managing their diabetes. Ten-minute consultations in general practice settings are often insufficient to guage patient understanding of their disease. Focus group sessions are a simple but effective way of educating patients on their illness, encouraging them to be more proactive in managing their condition.