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National guidelines for psychological care in diabetes: how mindful have we been?

  1. T. R. J. Nicholson1,
  2. J.-P. Taylor2,
  3. C. Gosden3,
  4. P. Trigwell4,
  5. K. Ismail1

Article first published online: 27 FEB 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02701.x

Issue

Diabetic Medicine

Diabetic Medicine

Volume 26, Issue 4, pages 447–450, April 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nicholson, T. R. J., Taylor, J.-P., Gosden, C., Trigwell, P. and Ismail, K. (2009), National guidelines for psychological care in diabetes: how mindful have we been?. Diabetic Medicine, 26: 447–450. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02701.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK

  2. 2

    Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Wolfson Research Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK

  3. 3

    Diabetes UK, Macleod House, 10 Parkway, London NW1 7AA, UK

  4. 4

    Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Leeds General Infirmary/Leeds Partnerships Foundation NHS Trust, Leeds, Yorkshire, UK

*Khalida Ismail, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London SE5 9RJ, UK. E-mail: k.ismail@iop.kcl.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 APR 2009
  2. Article first published online: 27 FEB 2009
  3. Accepted 10 February 2009

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Keywords:

  • consultation–liaison psychiatry;
  • diabetes;
  • health services;
  • psychology;
  • survey

Abstract

Aims  To assess the availability and types of psychological services for people with diabetes in the UK, compliance with national guidelines and skills of the diabetes team in, and attitudes towards, psychological aspects of diabetes management.

Methods  Postal questionnaires to team leads (doctor and nurse) of all UK diabetes centres (n = 464) followed by semi-structured telephone interviews of expert providers of psychological services identified by team leads.

Results  Two hundred and sixty-seven centres (58%) returned postal questionnaires; 66 (25%) identified a named expert provider of psychological services, of whom 53 (80%) were interviewed by telephone. Less than one-third (n = 84) of responding centres had access to specialist psychological services and availability varied across the four UK nations (P = 0.02). Over two-thirds (n = 182) of centres had not implemented the majority of national guidelines and only 2.6% met all guidelines. Psychological input into teams was associated with improved training in psychological issues for team members (P < 0.001), perception of better skills in managing more complex psychological issues (P ≤ 0.01) and increased likelihood of having psychological care pathways (P ≤ 0.05). Most (81%) expert providers interviewed by telephone were under-resourced to meet the psychological needs of their population.

Conclusions  Expert psychological support is not available to the majority of diabetes centres and significant geographical variation indicates inequity of service provision. Only a minority of centres meet national guidelines. Skills and services within diabetes teams vary widely and are positively influenced by the presence of expert providers of psychological care. Lack of resources are a barrier to service provision.

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