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Correlates of family involvement before and during medical visits among older adults with high‐risk diabetes
Author(s) -
Janevic M. R.,
Piette J. D.,
Ratz D. P.,
Kim H. M.,
Rosland A.M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.13045
Subject(s) - medicine , supporter , diabetes mellitus , medical prescription , family history , affect (linguistics) , medical record , family medicine , type 2 diabetes , nursing , linguistics , archaeology , history , philosophy , endocrinology
Aims To examine the characteristics of patients with diabetes who regularly receive help from a supporter in preparing for and attending medical visits, and the association between this help and clinical risk factors for diabetes complications. Methods We linked survey data about family involvement for patients in the Veterans Health Administration system with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes ( n = 588; mean 67 years; 97% male) with health record data on blood pressure, glycaemic control and prescription‐fill gaps. We used multivariable regression to assess whether supporter presence and, among patients with supporters, supporter role (visit preparation, accompaniment to medical visit or no involvement) were associated with concurrent trends in clinical risk factors over 2 years, adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results Most patients (78%) had a main health supporter; of these, more had regular support for preparing for appointments (69%) than were regularly accompanied to them (45%). Patients with preparation help only were younger and more educated than accompanied patients. Support presence and type was not significantly associated with clinical risk factors. Conclusions Family help preparing for appointments was common among these patients with high‐risk diabetes. In its current form, family support for medical visits may not affect clinical factors in the short term. Supporters helping patients engage in medical visits may need training and assistance to have an impact on the clinical trajectory of patients with diabetes.