Can J Diabetes
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The goal of this study was to establish patients' perspectives on the acceptability of wait times, the impact of wait times on their health and the possibility of using electronic consultations (eConsultations) to avoid visits to specialists. A 2-stage patient survey (self-administered and with a follow-up telephone call) and a chart audit was conducted on a sequential sample of patients attending their initial consultations in a tertiary diabetes and endocrinology centre. Patients' perspectives on actual and ideal wait times, the impact of waiting for access, the effectiveness of the referral-consultation process and attitudes toward eConsultations as an alternative to traditional referral-consultations were collected. ⋯ Of the patients, 46% considered eConsultation a viable alternative to face-to-face visits. Excessive wait times for specialist care remain barriers and have negative impacts on patients. Wait times significantly exceeded times patients considered acceptable. eConsultations provide acceptable alternatives for many patients, and they reduced the number of patients requiring traditional consultations.
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This study assessed the feasibility of diagnosing painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) using a postal self-completed Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) questionnaire, and it compared the prevalence of PDN in patients with diabetes attending primary and secondary care. ⋯ The overall prevalence of PDN in this study was 30.3%. The results demonstrated the use of self-administered S-LANSS was easy and can be used for epidemiologic surveys of PDN. The results are comparable to and similar to other published series, in both primary and secondary care settings.