The difficulties of interprofessional teamwork in diabetes care: a questionnaire survey

Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes is a multifactorial disease and its nature means that interprofessional teamwork is essential for its treatment. However, in general, interprofessional teamwork has certain problems that impede its function. To clarify these problems in relation to diabetes care, a questionnaire survey was conducted.MethodsThe participants who were involved in diabetes-related educational seminars, and medical personnel who were engaged in diabetes care from the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, were asked to complete the questionnaire about perceptions of, and satisfaction with, interprofessional teamwork across multiple health care providers, who were actually involved in diabetes care.ResultsFrom 456 people who were asked to take the questionnaire, 275 people answered. The percentages of the respondents according to profession who considered multidisciplinary teamwork sufficient were as follows: physicians, 20.5%; nurses, 12.7%; registered dietitians, 29.6%; pharmacists, 21.9%; physiotherapists, 18.2%; and clinical laboratory technicians 15.4%. Insufficient interprofessional communication and inconsistency in motivation levels among staff were frequently cited as causes of insufficient teamwork. All professions considered interprofessional meetings or conferences necessary and essential for teamwork.ConclusionThe survey revealed that interprofessional teamwork in diabetes care is currently insufficient. Continuous efforts to change each profession’s perceptions about interprofessional teamwork and efforts to improve the quality of interprofessional meetings are necessary.

A comparative study of interprofessional education in global health care

“…[ 13 – 79 ] Forty-five studies (Supplementary Table S1) came from 25 developed countries which reported IPE programs. [ 13 – 58 ] Supplementary Table S2, summarized the 20 [ 59 – 79 ] studies that conducted the IPE program in 16 developing countries, and mostly from West and East Asia. Few studies were available from Africa, and the Latin America and Caribbean region.…”

“…Based on all of the studies that we reviewed, we found that the university is the most common academic institution in IPE programs, except 1 IPE program which is conducted by the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Japan. [ 58 ] However, the global movement of IPE initiatives and programs are unique for each university in developed and developing countries. As early as 1960, universities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia initiated IPE programs, whereas most universities in developing countries introduced IPE programs more recently.…”

A Patient-Held Medical Record Integrating Depression Care into Diabetes Care

“…Certified diabetes educator of Japan is a qualification awarded by the Japanese Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, to a nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, clinical laboratory technician, or physical therapist possessing wide specialist knowledge of diabetes, since 2000. 25,26 In addition, CDEs who play an active role in local areas are called local certified diabetes educators. Local certified diabetes educators are trained in a manner corresponding to the conditions of an individual local area.…”

The factors that limit activities of certified diabetes educators in Japan: a questionnaire survey

“…Other factors such as insufficient “interprofessional teamwork” can be improved by continuous efforts by members. Interprofessional teamwork in diabetes care is extremely important (Dounis et al 2014 ; Ritholz et al 2011 ; Kishimoto and Noda 2014 ) and the successful use of CDEs on interprofessional teams suggests that expansion of the team approach might be effective in the provision of diabetes education services (Langelier et al 2010 ) and may raise CDE recognition levels. The factor of “limited personal ability” can be improved by individual effort and may lead to correcting mismatched allocations.…”