Controversial beliefs about diabetes and its care

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 15; no. 7; pp. 859 - 863
• Main Authors: ANDERSON, R. M, DONNELLY, M. B, DAVIS, W. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 01-07-1992
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes Mellitus - psychology; Diabetes Mellitus - therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Education, Medical, Continuing; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Personnel - education; Humans; Management. Various non-drug treatments. Langerhans islet grafts; Medical sciences; Professional Competence; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; Treatment; Surveillance; Health staff; Diabetes mellitus; Physician; Complication; Inquiry; Knowledge
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/diacare.15.7.859

Controversial beliefs about diabetes and its care.
R M Anderson ,
M B Donnelly and
W K Davis
University of Michigan Medical School, Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center, Department of Postgraduate Medicine/Health
Professions Education, Ann Arbor.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE--The purpose of this study was to identify specific beliefs that differentiate health-care professionals whose attitudes
toward diabetes agreed most strongly with a group of national diabetes experts from those whose attitudes disagreed most strongly.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--The sample for this study included 271 physicians, 834 nurses, and 546 dietitians who completed
a Diabetes Attitudes Survey. The sample included specialists in diabetes care and nonspecialists. Controversial beliefs about
diabetes and its care were determined by comparing the beliefs of the 10% of the sample whose attitudes were most concordant
(with the national panel) with the beliefs of the 10% of the sample whose attitudes were the most discordant. Ten beliefs
met the criteria for being defined as controversial. RESULTS--The most controversial beliefs concerned whether the patient
or the physician should be the primary decision maker in diabetes care, the meaning of patient noncompliance, and the seriousness
of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The 10% of the sample with the most discordant attitudes contained a disproportionately
large number of physicians, nonspecialists in diabetes, and health-care professionals who had been in practice longer than
the other members of the sample. CONCLUSIONS--This study identifies some important differences in beliefs between younger
health-care professionals who specialize in diabetes and older nonspecialists. Such beliefs should be addressed in continuing
education programs with the aim being to foster the widespread adoption of a contemporary approach to diabetes care.