Progression to unscheduled hospital admissions in people with diabetes: a qualitative interview study

Nikki Ed Perrin; Janet Heaton; Sandra M MacRury; Kathleen M Friel; Vivien Coates

doi:10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0044

Progression to unscheduled hospital admissions in people with diabetes: a qualitative interview study

BJGP Open. 2021 Aug 24;5(4):BJGPO.2021.0044. doi: 10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0044. Print 2021 Aug.

Authors

Nikki Ed Perrin¹, Janet Heaton², Sandra M MacRury^{2

3}, Kathleen M Friel⁴, Vivien Coates^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK nikki.perrin.ic@uhi.ac.uk.
² Division of Rural Health and Wellbeing, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, UK.
³ Diabetes and Endocrinology, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, UK.
⁴ Institute of Nursing Research, Ulster University, Londonderry, UK.
⁵ Nursing Directorate, Western Health and Social Care Trust, Londonderry, UK.

Abstract

Background: People with diabetes often have difficulty maintaining optimal blood glucose levels, risking progressive complications that can lead to unscheduled care. Unscheduled care can include attending emergency departments, ambulance callouts, out-of-hours care, and non-elective hospital admissions. A large proportion of non-elective hospital admissions involve people with diabetes, with significant health and economic burden.

Aim: To identify precipitating factors influencing diabetes-related unscheduled hospital admissions, exploring potential preventive strategies to reduce admissions.

Design & setting: Thirty-six people with type 1 (n = 11) or type 2 (n = 25) diabetes were interviewed. They were admitted to hospital for unscheduled diabetes-related care across three hospitals in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Participants were admitted for peripheral limb complications (n = 17), hypoglycaemia (n = 5), hyperglycaemia (n = 6), or for comorbidities presenting with erratic blood glucose levels (n = 8).

Method: Factors precipitating admissions were examined using framework analysis.

Results: Three aspects of care influenced unscheduled admissions: perceived inadequate knowledge of diabetes complications; restricted provision of care; and complexities in engagement with self-care and help-seeking. Limited specialist professional knowledge of diabetes by staff in primary and community care, alongside inadequate patient self-management knowledge, led to inappropriate treatment and significant delays. This was compounded by restricted provision of care, characterised by poor access to services - in time and proximity - and poor continuity of care. Complexities in patient engagement, help-seeking, and illness beliefs further complicated the progression to unscheduled admissions.

Conclusion: Dedicated investment in primary care is needed to enhance provision of and access to services. There should be increased promotion and earlier diabetes specialist team involvement, alongside training and use of technology and telemedicine, to enhance existing care.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; emergency service, hospital; prevention; qualitative research.