Background
Methods
Design
Measurements
Analysis
Results
Characteristics of participants in quantitative study
All (N=343) | GP-led type (N=197) | Group type (N=49) | Cluster type (N=97) | Effect size estimate for significant tests (95% CI) | p-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (mean, SD) | 54.7 (10.6) | 53.6 (10.5) | 53.5 (10.3) | 57.6 (10.5) | η2 = 0.03^ (0.003, 0.07) | .006** |
Gender (count/%) | NS | .052 | ||||
Male | 205 (59.8) | 112 (56.9) | 37 (75.5) | 56 (57.7) | ||
Female | 138 (40.2) | 85 (43.2) | 12 (24.5) | 41 (42.3) | ||
Ethnicity (count/%) | Cramer’s V = 0.17^ | .005** | ||||
Chinese | 251 (73.2) | 141 (71.6) | 29 (59.2) | 81 (83.5) | ||
Non- Chinese | 92 (26.8) | 56 (28.4) | 20 (40.8) | 16 (16.5) | ||
Years of education | 13 (10-15) | 13 (10-15) | 13 (10-15) | 13 (10-15) | NS | .680 |
Number of comorbid conditions | 1 (1-2) | 1 (1-2) | 1 (1-2) | 2 (1-2) | NS | .557 |
Cash payments, yes (count/%) | 220 (64.1) | 134 (68.0) | 22 (44.9) | 64 (66.0) | Cramer’s V = 0.17^ | .009** |
All (N=343) | GP-led type (N=197) | Group type (N=49) | Cluster type (N=97) | Effect size estimate for significant tests (95% CI) | p-value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Length of GP consultation, minsa | 15 (10-20) | 15 (10-20) | 15 (10-20) | 15 (10-20) | NS | .067 |
Nurse services, number | 2 (1-4) | 3 (2-4) | 2 (1-3) | 2 (0-3) | η2 = 0.04^ (0.007, 0.08) | .002** |
Diabetes medications, number | 1 (1-2) | 1 (1-2) | 1 (1-2) | 1 (1-2) | NS | .589 |
PACIC scores (mean, SD) | ||||||
Summary | 3.21 (0.75) | 3.25 (0.78) | 3.20 (0.67) | 3.14 (0.71) | NS | .460 |
Patient Activation | 3.44 (1.04) | 3.49 (1.05) | 3.42 (1.00) | 3.35 (1.03) | NS | .524 |
Delivery design/decision support | 3.81 (0.76) | 3.81 (0.80) | 3.80 (0.68) | 3.82 (0.74) | NS | .986 |
Goal setting/tailoring | 3.10 (0.83) | 3.12 (0.86) | 3.19 (0.76) | 3.00 (0.80) | NS | .335 |
Problem-solving/contexual counselling | 3.36 (0.93) | 3.43 (0.96) | 3.30 (0.83) | 3.27 (0.92) | NS | .313 |
Follow-up/coordination | 2.71 (0.90) | 2.76 (0.95) | 2.65 (0.81) | 2.64 (0.81) | NS | .460 |
Patient reported quality of care
Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
β (SE) | p-value | β (SE) | p-value | β (SE) | p-value | |
Service-related | ||||||
Length of GP consultation, minutes | 0.09 (0.04) | .029* | 0.09 (0.04) | .027* | 0.10 (0.04) | .008** |
No. of nurse services | 0.07 (0.04) | .071 | 0.06 (0.04) | .157 | Excluded | |
No. of diabetes medications | 0.09 (0.09) | .032* | 0.07 (0.04) | .098 | 0.07 (0.04) | .093 |
Patient characteristics | ||||||
Age | -0.16 (0.04) | <.001*** | -0.16 (0.04) | <.001*** | ||
Gender (Ref: Female) | ||||||
Male | 0.04 (0.08) | .636 | Excluded | |||
Ethnicity | ||||||
(Ref: Non-Chinese) | ||||||
Chinese | -0.15 (0.09) | .087 | -0.17 (0.09) | .060 | ||
Years of education | 0.01 (0.04) | .755 | Excluded | |||
No. of comorbid conditions | 0.05 (0.04) | .220 | Excluded | |||
Cash payment (Ref: No) | -0.06 (0.08) | .490 | Excluded | |||
PCN types | ||||||
PCN type (Ref: GP-led) | ||||||
Group | -0.08 (0.11) | .464 | ||||
Cluster | -0.05 (0.09) | .612 | ||||
F(3,336)=4.93, p=.002, Adjusted R2==0.03 | F(9,330)=4.59, p<.001, Adjusted R2=0.09 | F(6,333)=6.23, p<.001, Adjusted R2=0.08 |
Qualitative study
Themes and subthemes of patient experiences with diabetes care
Theme 1: Team-based diabetes services provided by PCNs
“Dr S told me a month back, like there would be a workshop and are you interested? I said yeah, because I haven't been able to do my eye test because of this COVID measures for last year, so it’s good that I can get it done here.” (P24)
Theme 2: PCN features that were favoured by patients
“Because I’m used to the doc, she knows my condition, what medicine to give me. Then she share so many things with me, right? How to improve my condition and advise me, check my blood test. Because she knows my condition, then I know the doctor can help me or not.” (P2)
“She (the GP) doesn't talk to you in a hurry, in a hurried manner. She takes time to listen to me and yeah, just to know ... any current discomfort or anything that I need to find out from her, she's readily available for me.” (P15)
“He (the GP) said whether I can go for a brisk walk around the park, like running, jogging, whatever I’m at the park. If free, I can do it anytime I want, that kind of thing.” (P14)
“If the (blood glucose) is high, they (the GPs) try to check with me, what I have been doing for the past, like my diet. The way they approach the patient, something like that, which I feel comfortable.” (P6)
“I mean it's (PCN clinic) also at the most convenient location, because ultimately, that's primary care… it's got to be easy access.” (P17)
Theme 3: Opportunity for PCNs to collaborate with community partners
“Maybe medication-wise, it's possible for the GP to take the cheaper ones from the polyclinic to give [to] those who can’t really afford (the medications).” (P21)
“When I went to the clinic, the doctor recommended me to this diabetes association. But I live in Jurong (west of Singapore), and most of the activities, they have it at east side, like Bedok. Yeah, so it’s not convenient. After a while, I didn’t renew my membership.” (P6)
Theme 4: Financial aspects of PCN care
“I see him (the GP) every two months. So, it ranges from $60 to $130, but it is subsidised by CHAS. After my CHAS finishes, I use MediSave. So, cash payment I pay quite little, around $20 to $40, which to me is affordable.” (P23)
“She (the GP) was doing a different brand and one box was $50. Two months of fenofibrate only added up to $11 (from the polyclinic). I can see her for monitoring for blood tests. But when it comes to taking medications every day and it’s for life. To sustain this cost, it’s just not worth it (to see the GP).” (P8)
“If they (government) reduce the price to 50% or even 25%, it actually helps a lot. Subsidise the medication, that's most expensive.” (P18)
Theme 5: Enhancement that PCNs should consider
“But the (paper) record is very thick, like visiting this doctor for the last 10 years. Yeah, not the most efficient way to manage a patient. The cloud storage is the way towards the future. When you're traveling and something happened, at least you can send this report to the doctor there.” (P11)
“The nurse is always going all over (to different clinics). If you can have everything under one roof, that would be good.” (P17)
Integration of quantitative and qualitative results
Integration Analysis | Quantitative results | Qualitative results | |
---|---|---|---|
Key Concepts | Classifying the integration | PACIC subscales | Subthemes |
Patient Activation was sometimes received | Confirming | Patient Activation subscale with mean score 3.44 (SD 1.04) | Subtheme 2.3 Patient-centred care received Subtheme 2.4 Engaged and supported by GPs |
Disconfirming | Subtheme 5.4 Increase self-care information in patient education | ||
Delivery system design/decision support was sometimes received | Confirming | Delivery system design/decision support subscale with mean score 3.81 (SD 0.76) | Subtheme 1.1Nurse ancillary services provided Subtheme 2.1 Follow up by same GP Subtheme 2.2 Adequate consultation time with GPs Subtheme 2.5 Convenient access to PCN care |
Disconfirming | Subtheme 5.5 Enable more allied health services | ||
Expanded | Subtheme 3.1 Shared care with polyclinics Subtheme 3.2 Subsidised medications from polyclinics Subtheme 5.2 Increase access to nurse services | ||
Goal setting/tailoring was sometimes received | Confirming | Goal setting/tailoring subscale with mean 3.10 (SD 0.83) | Subtheme 2.3 Patient-centred care received |
Disconfirming | Subtheme 3.3 Referral to community programmes | ||
Problem-solving/contextual counselling was sometimes received | Confirming | Problem-solving/contextual counselling subscale with mean 3.36 (SD 0.93) | Subtheme 2.3 Patient-centred care received |
Disconfirming | Subtheme 2.3 Patient-centred care received | ||
Follow-up/coordination was generally not received | Confirming | Follow-up/coordination subscale with mean 2.71 (SD 0.90) | Subtheme 1.2 Care coordination and follow-up provided Subtheme 3.3 Referral to community programmes |
Disconfirming | Subtheme 1.2 Care coordination and follow-up provided | ||
Integration not possible | - | Not covered by any PACIC subscales | Subtheme 4.1 Affordable PCN fees Subtheme 4.2 Rising medical costs Subtheme 4.3 More government subsidises needed Subtheme 5.1Increase physical space in PCN clinics Subtheme 5.3 Increase use of electronic medical records |