SFEBES2023 Poster Presentations Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes (70 abstracts)
1University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom. 2Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom. 3Clinic NeoLab, Tbilisi, Georgia. 4University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
Introduction: unior doctors (JDs) are important part of the multidisciplinary team when managing people admitted with diabetes and frailty. Several guidelines have recommended a target HbA1c of between 7.0-8.5% for this group of people with diabetes. We aimed to assess junior doctors knowledge and awareness of management guidelines for people with diabetes and moderate/severe frailty.
Methods: Survey was conducted among JDs working in the medical department of a large acute teaching hospital at the beginning of their rotation. Data collected included participants grade and their knowledge of inpatient management of people with diabetes and moderate/severe frailty. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scales.
Results: Sixty-eight junior doctors completed the survey and were included in the analysis. The majority were foundation year (63.2%; n=43/68) followed by core trainees (20.6%; n=14/68) and specialist registrars (11.8%; n=8/68). 82.4% (n=56/68) of the JDs stated that they were aware that people with diabetes and moderate/severe frailty required an HbA1c target range which was different to standard care. Of these, 67.9% (n=38/56) were able to correctly state/identify the correct target range for these people (7.0-8.5%). Only 19.1% (n=13/68) of the JDs stated that they would always/often check the HbA1c for people with diabetes and frailty during admission, and only 20.6% (n=14/68) of the JDs would always/often consider deintensification of treatment during the inpatient stay. 22.1% (15/68) had some experience of direct involvement with deintensification.
Conclusion: This study identifies gaps in knowledge and awareness of the management of patients with diabetes and moderate/severe frailty among junior doctors. Junior doctors were unlikely to (consider) deintensification or have direct experience of deintensification. Educational interventions to improve the knowledge and awareness are needed to improve the inpatient care of patients with diabetes and moderate/severe frailty admitted to the hospital.