Journal of general internal medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Patients' participation in medical care: effects on blood sugar control and quality of life in diabetes.
To maximize disease control, patients must participate effectively in their medical care. The authors developed an intervention designed to increase the involvement of patients in medical decision making. In a 20-minute session just before the regular visit to a physician, a clinic assistant reviewed the medical record of each experimental patient with him/her, guided by a diabetes algorithm. ⋯ Analysis of audiotapes of the visits to the physician showed the experimental patients were twice as effective as controls in eliciting information from the physician. Experimental patients reported significantly fewer function limitations. The authors conclude that the intervention is feasible and that it changes patient behavior, improves blood sugar control, and decreases functional limitations.