Poll seeks to identify priorities to combat diabetes in Africa
Diabetes Africa has just released the first trends coming out of its annual poll of healthcare professionals. Improvement in patient follow-up appears to be a top concern of professionals, while learning preferences in Africa differ from the rest of the world.
COVID-19 Notice
Due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the annual poll of healthcare professionals has been paused.
If you are a healthcare professional and wish to provide feedback on your daily activities, and the ways in which you have adapted to the pandemic, you are invited to share your experience via our online form.
Diabetes Africa poll overview
The 2020 Diabetes Africa Poll of Healthcare Professionals is open to all healthcare professionals caring for patients with diabetes in Africa and the rest of the world.
The poll, launched in February 2020, is designed to capture trends and priorities as they relate to diabetes, and provide a benchmark to track the evolution of knowledge and priorities over time.
Who has responded?
115 healthcare professionals have taken part in the poll so far. Two thirds of respondents were based in Africa, making it possible to compare responses and priorities with the rest of the world. Almost half of respondents are doctors. Respondent’s specialties include: internal medicine (22%), diabetology (14%), endocrinology (6%), podiatry, nephrology and nutrition, among others.
Respondents are spread across all levels of care (primary, secondary, tertiary). Whilst the vast majority (88%) are dealing with diabetes in their daily practice, respondents are also managing patients with other conditions, including: heart failure (48%), chronic kidney conditions (41.4%), HIV (24.2%) and tuberculosis (19.2%).
An update to poll results will be published later in the year.
Innovation and learning styles
One of the questions covered by the poll relates to the opinion of healthcare professionals on the most impactful innovation that could help tackle diabetes in Africa. 8 out of 10 have recommended that patient follow-up be improved as a priority. The way we can implement this recommendation is subject to discussion, but access to blood glucose monitoring, informed professional advice, particularly from nurses, and community support are some of the interventions that could be investigated.
‘Upskilling’ the theme of Diabetes Africa‘s work programme in 2020. For this reason, the poll surveys the type of learning experience that healthcare professionals are most comfortable with. Whilst respondents from outside of Africa are on average more comfortable with videos and digital formats, African respondents preferred face-to-face interactions, like conferences for example.
Our partners
We wish to thank the individuals and organisations that have helped us reach out to healthcare professionals for the 2020 Diabetes Africa Poll of Healthcare Professionals:
- African Diabetes & Hypertension Association
- Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology (South Africa)
- Diabetes Alliance (South Africa)
- Diabetes South Africa
- St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia)
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