“More time, better quality”: Nurses perceptions of the Diabetes Get Checked Programme – Summary of Results

Aim: The overall goal of this study was to determine what impact the Diabetes Get Checked (DGC) programme had on the practice of nurses, identify those factors that nurses consider contributed to the success or failure of the programme in their work setting, and identify nurses’ suggestions for improved management and outcomes for people with diabetes in the future. Background: Recent research into the DGC programme has found the programme has not systematically resulted in improved management or outcomes for people with diabetes. Other work however, reports a number of successful outcomes other than clinical indicators including anecdotal evidence that the programme has enabled the development of nursing practice, an area requiring further research. Methods: An observational study utilising an online survey was undertaken. A total of 748 people completed the survey – the majority nurses. Data were analysed descriptively. Findings and discussion: The DGC programme had a substantial impact on the practice of nurses, enabling the development of new models of nursing care, improved educational levels among nurses (and doctors), improved confidence in the management of diabetes, and increased satisfaction in their work. Difficulties with the programme included inconsistency in the way it was implemented in differing workplaces, inconsistent levels of education of providers and therefore inconsistent information passed onto people with diabetes, a lack of time to effectively implement