Assessment of an Alternative Model of Follow-up of Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

Overview

The purpose of the study is to look at the effect of replacing the physician only visit by a transmission of information on the participant's current diabetes management and blood glucose monitoring results followed by a phone contact by the diabetes nurse educator. The study will also measure the effect on diabetes control (HbA1c), satisfaction with care, resource utilisation, and costs to the health care system and to the participant. We hypothesize that replacement of the physician-only visit by a virtual visit will not result in worsening of the medical outcomes and that it will result in a reduction in medical resources utilization and costs for families while increasing the satisfaction with care.

Improved metabolic control reduces both the onset and progression of diabetes-related complications in adults and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Frequency of contact with the medical care team has been associated with better control. Both the American Diabetes Association and Canadian Diabetes Association recommend regular quarterly visits. However, the increase in case loads and the limited manpower available forces us to look at alternative models of care. A model of care in which medical visits alternate between a face to face multidisciplinary visits and a virtual visit done via fax or e-mail communication and a phone call may be advantageous to both the patient and the medical care team. For the patient and his family, this model would decrease time away from school and work, travel inconveniences and costs. For the medical care team it may decrease time per patient and therefore increase the number of patients served with the same resources.