Barriers to Blood Glucose Level Management in the Health Care System: View Points of Patients, Families and Medical Personnel

Health care system barriers are major barriers to management and control of blood glucose level control. Documenting the viewpoints of patients, their families and the medical team, on these barriers is an important step towards correct planning and effective control of blood glucose. This study aimed to document and compare viewpoints of patients, their families and medical team about health care system barriers to control of glucose levels in diabetes centers of Isfahan city. This was a descriptive- comparative, cross-sectional, one stage, study of three groups, in which a total of 938 subjects, including 420 type2 diabetic patients, 420 members of their families and 98 medical staff participated. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire that was completed by subjects. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods and SPSS software. Results showed significant differences between viewpoints of the 3 groups, i.e. patients, their families and the medical team regarding barriers of the health care system to blood glucose control (P-value<0.001). The medical team gave the highest importance to these barriers, while patients gave the lowest. Regarding the significant differences between the viewpoints of these three groups, it can be concluded these differences account for lack of success in controlling patient glucose levels, because medical teams focus on barriers that are not so important to patients and their families, while barriers which are important to patients and their families are less considered by members of the medical team.