Provider impact in diabetes education - What we know, what we would like to know, paradigms for asking

PURPOSE a literature search from 1985 to the present was performed using Web-based search engines to identify evidence-based studies of diabetes education. METHODS Twelve studies were identified in which a provider characteristic was defin ed as a discriminate variable associated with impact or efficacy of the edu cation intervention. Provider was defined as all those participating in dia betes care and education (eg, patient, education and care teams, funding an d policy agencies). The Certified Diabetes Educator. credential also was de scribed. RESULTS Speciality or discipline of the provider/care team technology when used to assist providers, mid physician practice patterns have been assessed. There is a paucity of research that assesses provider impact or the specific imp act of provider charactericstics on diabetes outcomes in a controlled and s cientifically rigorous fashion. CONCLUSIONS Suggestions for evaluating provider impact based on literature concerning p sychotherapy and healthcare education outcomes are: identify provider chara cteristics/attitudes/skills and link them to outcomes, define therapeutic a lliance in diabetes care education and assess its contribution to outcomes; and use performance measures as provider characteristics.