The Diabetes educator
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The Diabetes educator · Jul 2010
Examining patient risk factors, comorbid conditions, participation, and physician referrals to a rural diabetes self-management education program.
The purpose of this study was to examine patients' diabetes risk factors, comorbid conditions, and patient participation in and primary care practitioner (PCP) referrals to a rural diabetes self-management education (DSME) program. ⋯ The findings reaffirm concerns that DSME patient participation and PCP referral practices are poor. Advocacy efforts should force policies and procedures that will make DSME a mandatory service and universally accessible. Unless referral practices are attended to, it is doubtful that the United States will reach the Healthy People 2010 objective for diabetes education.