Glycemic Control Level among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Receiving Service according to the Service Guideline during the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation: A Case Study of Banlat Hospital

Abstract

           This mixed-methods research aimed to 1) compare the glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving service according to the service guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic situation, 2) study the considering problems, needs, and 3) develop a policy recommendation for developing a new way of health services of type 2 diabetes patients. The sample group for the quantitative method was forty-five type 2 diabetes patients. While the sample group for the qualitative method was twenty-five type 2 diabetes patients and eight diabetic health care providers. The research instruments included health status surveys, a set of questions for a group discussion, and open-ended questions for an in-depth interview. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics: frequency, mean, percentage, and standard deviation, paired t-test and content analysis.

          The results show that:

1. By comparing the differences in HbA1C before and after receiving the service with paired t-test statistics, HbA1C level after receiving the service were significantly lower than before at the .05 level (t=3.52, p=0.001)
2. Problems and needs for health service system development for patients with diabetes found is that some patients received the drug delayed and the database system transmits patient information out of date. The staff has a proposal to develop a database system and telemedicine system, provide a consultation system through Line application, including the patient’s self-management plan to control blood sugar levels. The diabetes patients were satisfied with the home-delivery medicines system; however, they would like to be informed of their blood sugar levels to manage themselves properly. Furthermore, the elderly wanted to have a home visit or a consulting system at the health centre near their homes.

           Policy recommendations to the new way development of health service system for patients with type 2 diabetes were the development of database system and the cooperative network of health teams based on the policy of three health care providers of the Ministry of Public Health. This policy would help to provide care and support of the necessary equipment for patients at home including self- monitoring of blood glucose meter and glucose strips for each district.