Patient Choice in the Treatment of Diabetes – the Role of Information Provision
Dr Natasha Posner, RCN Research Institute, School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick, Prof Vivien Coates,
Institute of Nursing Research, University of Ulster, & Dr Lydia Lewis, RCN Research Institute, School of Health & Social
Studies, University of Warwick.
This research
will be of
interest to:
People with
diabetes, the public,
healthcare
practitioners, policymakers, and
researchers
concerned about
choice and
information
provision in
healthcare.
Keywords
1. Patient
participation and
choice in
healthcare
2. Diabetes care
3. Information
prescriptions
It has recently become National Health Service (NHS) policy that patients should have choice in the
treatment of long-term conditions such as diabetes. Information provision is central to this choice and new
ways of providing information to patients through ‘information prescriptions’ are now being introduced. The
aim of this research is to assess the extent to which adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes experience desired
choice in relation to their treatment, and the role of information provision in relation to choice.
Policy Background to patient choice &
information provision





Dept. of Health (2001) The Expert Patient: a new
approach to Chronic Disease Management for the
21st Century
Chronic Disease Self-Management programme
(Lorig et al, 2001)
Wanless Report (2002)
Dept. of Health (2003) National Service
Framework for Diabetes
NHS Plan & European Charter of Patients’ Rights
(2008)
Policy implementation



Dept.of Health Information for Choice programme
Information prescriptions (piloted 2007) Diabetes UK collaborated with Arthritis Care and
Asthma UK to conduct an information pilot in
Hammersmith and Fulham
NHS Choices – searchable web-based resource.
Research Methods



Literature review focusing on how choice
has been exercised and information has
been provided in diabetes care
Focus groups with adults with diabetes in
London, and the West Midlands to discuss
peoples’ experience and views vis-a-vis
choice and access to information relating to
treatment
Development and pilot of a questionnaire
for survey in the diabetic population.
Planned outputs from the study



A report for the funders, participants and
interested others
Development of a grant application for a
larger collaborative study
An article for publication in a journal for
people involved in care of diabetes.
Researcher info/contact: If you would like more information about this study or are interested in taking
part in a focus group, please contact Dr. Natasha Posner, RCN Research Institute, School of Health and
Social Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL. Natasha.posner@warwick.ac.uk; Tel. 02476 550629
Acknowledgement: The research is being funded by the Insulin Dependent Diabetes Trust.