Family Physician Clinical Inertia in Managing Hypoglycemia. Issue 3 (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rebicki, Caroline V.M.; Ryan, Bridget L.; Ratzki-Leewing, Alexandria; Tremblay, Paul F.; Harris, Stewart B.
• Is Part Of: Primary care diabetes. Volume 16:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 417
• Page End: 421
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Hypoglycemia -- Clinical Inertia -- Family Physician -- Exploratory Factor Analysis; Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2022.02.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-9918

Abstract

Highlights: Hypoglycemia is a barrier to achieving glycemic target in patients with diabetes. Clinical inertia affects physician management of chronic disease such as diabetes. Factors influencing family physician's clinical inertia behavior are unexplained. A clinical inertia scale for hypoglycemia management may improve care delivery. Abstract: Aims: Clinical inertia behaviour affects family physicians managing chronic disease such as diabetes. Literature addressing clinical inertia in the management of hypoglycemia is scarce. The objectives of this study were to create a measurement for physician clinical inertia in managing hypoglycemia (ClinInert_InHypoDM), and to determine physicians' characteristics associated with clinical inertia. Methods: The study was a secondary analysis of data provided by family physicians from the InHypo-DM Study, applying exploratory factor analysis. Principal axis factoring with an Oblimin rotation was employed to detect underlying factors associated with physician behaviors. Multiple linear regression was used to determine association between the ClinInert_InHypoDM scores and physician characteristics. Results: Factor analysis identified a statistically sound 12-item one-factor scale for clinical inertia behavior. No statistically significant differences in clinical inertia score for the studied independent variables were found. Conclusions: This study provides a scale for assessing clinical inertia in the management of hypoglycemia. Further testing this scale in other family physician populations will provide deeper understanding about the characteristics and factors that influence clinical inertia. The knowledge derived from better understanding clinical inertia in primary care has potential to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes.