Primary care visit preparation and communication for patients with poorly controlled diabetes: A qualitative study of patients and physicians.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine how patients with diabetes and their primary care physicians identify and discuss visit priorities prior to and during visits.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study involving patients with diabetes (4 focus groups, n=29) and primary care physicians (6 provider practice meeting discussions, n=67).

RESULTS

Four key themes related to prioritization were identified: 1) the value of identifying visit priorities before the visit; 2) challenges to negotiating priorities during the time-limited visit; 3) the importance of "non-medical" priorities; and 4) the need for strategies to help patients prepare for visits. Both patients and physicians felt that identifying a concise list of key priorities in advance of the visit could help establish collaborative visit agendas and treatment plans.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying and communicating mutually agreed upon priorities for discussion is a key challenge for time-limited primary care visits.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Communication between primary care physicians and their patients with diabetes could be improved by strategies that help patients identify their top visit priorities before the visit.