Measuring Health Care Quality: Diabetes

Following is a summary of a Discussion Paper that is part of a series of scientific papers funded by AHCPR to support the performance measurement efforts of the Foundation for Accountability (FACCT). The authors of these papers reviewed the science base and provided recommendations on measures. FACCT had identified the topics covered in this series—population-level measurement areas such as satisfaction and a number of clinical conditions—as first priorities.

This Discussion Paper first reviews activities underway in developing diabetes quality-of-care measures. Next, specific measures are recommended and ranked as either optimal or good. Optimal measures are usually more expensive, and many are outcome measures. Good measures are usually measures that are currently accepted and more feasible for immediate use.

Recommended measures are grouped along several dimensions:

• Glycemic control.
• Eye disease.
• Extremity disease.
• Lipids.
• Kidney disease.
• Hypertension.
• Heart disease.
• Obesity.
• Health-related quality of life.

The authors conclude that it is possible to identify valid and reliable measures for diabetes that can be used to measure quality of life, clinical outcomes, and essential processes. Some optimal measures may require effort and refinement but deserve serious appraisal.

This Discussion Paper was written by Sheldon Greenfield, M.D., Sherrie Kaplan, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Sarah Purdy, M.B., B.S., M.P.H., of the Primary Care Outcomes Research Institute at New England Medical Center.

Current as of August 1996

Internet Citation:

Measuring Health Care Quality: Diabetes. August 1996. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/diabetes.htm