Objective: To assess whether scores on the minimum technical norms (MTN) of the diabetes mellitus programme are of use in determining the level of metabolic control achieved.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Two teaching health centres in the city of Santander.
Patients and other participants: 204 patients, the total chosen by the Santander area management for the 1994 annual evaluation of the Diabetes programme.
Measurements and results: The values reached by the variables of the MTN were measured. For a control criterion we took the value of glycosylated haemoglobin HbA1C or over. 52% of patients fulfilled the criteria of good control, 20% acceptable and 28% bad.
Conclusions: Scoring on the MTN has little value in predicting lower values of HbA1C and is no use in assessing the level of metabolic control achieved by the Diabetes programme. The evaluation of the programme should include results indicators.