9 July 2009

Health professionals are encouraged to participate in the National Prescribing Service’s (NPS) Clinical e-audit: Type 2 diabetes during National Diabetes Week, 12-18 July.

Optimising management of type 2 diabetes helps GPs review drug therapy and achieve target levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, providing instantaneous feedback based on clinical data entered.

“National Diabetes Week is not just about acknowledging the prevalence of this disease. It puts diabetes at the top of people’s minds and encourages consideration and discussion about the risk factors of diabetes,” NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said.

“Health professionals can expect to see an increase in the number of people with questions about type 2 diabetes over the next month as the campaign messages are heard.”

“This is an ideal time to participate in the type 2 diabetes clinical e-audit which focuses on the use of oral anti-diabetic agents and insulin, frequency of monitoring and the management of coexisting dyslipidaemia and hypertension,” Dr Weekes said.

The e-audit is a desktop software program that is independent of prescribing software, with data securely submitted online. Participants are required to review 20 patients.

Participation in Clinical e-audit: Type 2 diabetes assists GPs to:

• identify patients’ ideal HbA_1c, blood pressure and lipid levels
• use a systematic approach to review frequency of monitoring for HbA_1c, blood pressure, lipid levels
• review drug use to achieve optimal control of blood glucose
• alter antidiabetic drug therapy in patients who are not achieving target HbA_1c
• identify when failure of oral antidiabetic therapy warrants initiation of insulin
• assess coexisting dyslipidaemia and hypertension to minimise cardiovascular risk

The e-audit is recognised by the RACGP quality assurance and continuing professional development program, offering total points 40 (category 1) in the 2008-2010 triennium. It is also recognised in the ACRRM professional development program, offering 30 points (extended skills).

Participation is open until 16 April 2010. For more information or to enrol visit www.nps.org.au/healthpro.

Other professional resources which will be promoted throughout National Diabetes Week include the Heart Foundation’s Absolute Cardiovascular Risk calculator and National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance guidelines, which make recommendations for assessing absolute CVD risk in adults aged 45-74 years (35 years and above for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander adults).

ENDS