Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of adoption of and adherence to the Hellenic Diabetes Association (HDA) guidelines for the management of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by Greek physicians.
Methods: We used a constructed questionnaire distributed to physicians in Greece. The questionnaire assessed the adoption of and adherence to the general and treatment guidelines of the HDA, as well as factors affecting physicians' prescribing habits and demographic characteristics of the participating healthcare professionals. Factors affecting the preferred therapy or glycated hemoglobin target setting were evaluated using non-parametric tests. The likelihood of adherence was estimated by logistic regression models.
Results: Adoption of the HDA guidelines was reported by 92.2% of physicians. Adherence to the treatment algorithm was reported by 53.5% and to the general HDA guidelines by 42.0% of healthcare professionals; overall adherence to both general and treatment guidelines was 26.1%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the likelihood of adherence to treatment guidelines was higher among individuals attending over five in comparison with those attending under two diabetes seminars per year (p = 0.037); in contrast, years of work (professional experience ≥ 21 vs. ≤ 5 years) affected adherence negatively (p = 0.031). No significant association was found between other parameters and adherence to either general or overall guidelines.
Conclusions: Adoption rates of the guidelines for the management of T2DM were high, while adherence rates to general and treatment guidelines were low. The rate of seminar attendance affected treatment adherence positively, while long professional practice affected treatment adherence negatively.
Keywords: Adherence; Adoption; Clinical guidelines; Greece; Physicians; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.