Research Article

Quality of Care of Patients with Diabetes in Primary Health Services in Southeast Brazil

Table 1

Elements of structure and process of the 14 evaluated PHCUs according to the questionnaire.

Structure
Material resources
 Availability of offices for consultation of patients with diabetes by a physician and a nurse on the same shift38.5%
 Adequate number of blood glucose test strips69.2%
 Sufficient number of diabetes medications to meet the demand of the unit30.8%
 Availability of educational material on diabetes for the population69.2%
Human resources
 Completeness of the FHS team46.2%
 Most frequently lacking professionalCHA (53.8%)
 Physicians and nurses trained in FHS100%
 Nursing assistants trained in FHS72.7%
 CHAs trained in FHS81.8%
Organizational structure
 Existence of scheduled nursing appointments for diabetes care61.5%
 Existence of scheduled medical consultation for patients with diabetes92.3%
 Active retrievability of diabetic patients who missed scheduled appointments46.2%
 Problems related to coordination of care of patients with diabetes69.2%
  Uncertainty about the unit where the patient should be referred to69.2%
  Unawareness of the criteria for referral69.2%
  Shortage of available appointments57.1%

Processes
Recommendations about healthy eating and physical activity100%
Guidance regarding insulin application when indicated71.4%
Requests for FPG, HbA1c, creatinine, lipid profile, and urinalysis100%
Adequate return of test exams21.4%
BP measurement during all appointments78.6%
Weight and height measurement during all appointments50%
Screening for loss of protective plantar sensation in the feet14.3%
Screening for retinopathy7.1%

FHS: Family Health Strategy; CHA: community health agent; FPG: fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin.