Primary Care Physician Referral Patterns to Diabetes Education Programs in Southern Ontario, Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES : Despite the reported benefits of diabetes selfmanagement education (DSME), participation rates are low across North America. This study examines primary care physician (PCP) referral practices to diabetes education programs (DEPs) and factors that influence referral in a large suburban region in Ontario, Canada. METHODS : Ninety-nine PCPs practicing in the Peel and Halton regions of Ontario were sampled from the Ontario Medical Association membership list, and completed questionnaires were submitted online or by fax. Frequencies were tabulated for all responses. RESULTS : Fewer than half of PCPs referred all of their diabetes patients to DEPs. Common reasons for not referring were patients' unwillingness to attend, lack of evening/weekend appointments, language barriers, long referral waiting lists and inconvenient location for patients. CONCLUSION : Fewer than half of PCPs surveyed followed the Canadian Diabetes Association recommendation to refer patients to DSME. Physician referral was found to be encumbered by patient, system and operational factors. DEPs need to tailor their programming to meet the needs of their community and to commit to more outreach services to increase PCP and patient access as well as awareness of DSME services.