Patient Knowledge Compared With National Guidelines for Diabetes Care

Data collected on a randomly selected group of 428 patients with insulin-dependent and noninsulin-dependent diabetes from 61 physician practices in eight Michigan communities were compared with national standards for diabetes patient knowledge. Comparisons were performed using a standardized Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) and selected items from the Diabetes Education Profile (DEP). Patient performance on these instruments was compared with corresponding items in the Ambulatory Care Facilities section of the Guide lines for Diabetes Care published by the American Diabetes Associ ation and the American Associ ation of Diabetes Educators. In general, insulin-dependent persons scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons. Those taking insulin (whether insulin-dependent or not) scored higher than noninsulin-dependent persons whose regimen did not include insulin. The findings emphasize the need to subdivide any analysis of clinical diabetes or diabetes education into groups based on insulin use or nonuse.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69139/2/10.1177_014572178801400312.pd

The Role of Health Kiosks in 2009: Literature and Informant Review

Kiosks can provide patients with access to health systems in public locations, but with increasing home Internet access their usefulness is questioned. A literature and informant review identified kiosks used for taking medical histories, health promotion, self assessment, consumer feedback, patient registration, patient access to records, and remote consultations. Sited correctly with good interfaces, kiosks can be used by all demographics but many ‘projects’ have failed to become routine practice. A role remains for: (a) integrated kiosks as part of patient ‘flow’, (b) opportunistic kiosks to catch people’s attention. Both require clear ‘ownership’ to succeed