• Marisa Galán, Jaume Sellarès, Rosa Monteserín, Johanna Vicuña, Irene Moral, and Carlos Brotons.
• EAP Sardenya, Barcelona, España; Unitat Docent Multiprofessional d'Atenció Familiar i Comunitària ACEBA, Barcelona, España; Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: mgalan@eapsardenya.cat.
• Aten Primaria. 2024 Jun 1; 56 (6): 102853102853.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the incorporation of the clinical assistant in improving the control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in a primary care center.DesignQuasi-experimental study (pre-post), with a control group, with a 1-year follow-up.SettingPrimary care center.ParticipantsPatients between the ages of 18 and 85 with a diagnosis of diabetes type 2 and/or hypertension were selected.InterventionIncorporation of the figure of the clinical assistant, previously trained. The latter contacted the patient to explain their role and obtain informed consent, assessed compliance with the protocols, and when they were incomplete and/or detected warning signs, referred the patient directly to medicine and/or nursing.ResultsThree thousand and sixty-four patients participated, 30.74% assigned to the intervention group. Fifty percent were women. The mean age was 68.5 years (SD 11.07). 93.59% of diabetic patients in the intervention group had at least one determination of glycosylated hemoglobin compared to 86.83% in the control group (p=0.003). Fundus and diabetic foot screening was significantly higher in the intervention group (94.31% and 85.41% vs. 83.49% and 72.38%). 88.43% of the patients in the intervention group had registered blood pressure figures compared to 62.06% of the patients in the control group (p<0.05). There were not statistically significant differences in the control of blood pressure between the patients with recorded measures (p=0.478).ConclusionsClinical assistants can facilitate the implementation and compliance with chronic diseases protocols, and in the long run improve the degree of control of these patients and the quality of care.Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.

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