Survey of primary care providers' knowledge of screening for, diagnosing and managing prediabetes.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey study
PubMed 28730532 · doi:10.1007/s11606-017-4103-1
What was done
A self-administered written survey assessed prediabetes knowledge, management practices, and attitudes among 140 primary care providers (90% response rate of 155 attendees) at an annual provider retreat for academically affiliated multispecialty practices in the US mid-Atlantic region. Analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression evaluating associations between provider characteristics and knowledge, management, and attitudes.
What was found
Six percent of providers correctly identified all risk factors prompting prediabetes screening. Seventeen percent correctly identified diagnostic laboratory parameters based on both fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c. Nearly 90% reported close follow-up within 6 months, while 11% selected referral to a behavioral weight loss program as the recommended initial management. Provider characteristics were generally not associated with knowledge, management, or attitudes in multivariate analyses.
Why it matters
The findings identify substantial knowledge gaps in primary care around screening, laboratory diagnosis, and the utilization of evidence-based lifestyle interventions for prediabetes.
Limits
The sample is limited to 140 providers within a single academically affiliated network in one geographic region. Practice patterns were assessed through self-report rather than objective chart reviews or clinical outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Research indicates that approximately three-quarters of physicians cannot adequately assess prediabetes or metabolic disease.