Structured Care of Diabetes in General Practice: A Qualitative Study of the Barriers and Facilitator

This qualitative study explored general practitioner s and practice nurse s perceptions of barriers and facilitators to the proposed transfer of diabetes care to general practice. Qualitative data were collected through five focus groups. Participants included GPs (n=55) and practice nurses (n=11) representing urban (44%), rural (29%) and mixed (27%) practices, in the Irish Mid-West region. Barriers and facilitators were mentioned 631 times (100%). Barriers were mentioned 461 times (73%), facilitators 170 times (27%). The most frequently identified barriers were lack of financial incentive (119/631; 19%), lack of access to secondary resources (93/631; 15%), lack of staff and increased workload (59/631; 9%) and time constraints (52/631; 8%). Identified facilitators were access to secondary care (49/631;7.8%), the holistic nature of general practice and continuity of care (48/631;7.6%). Although many are enthusiastic, there remains significant reluctance among GPs and practice nurses to take responsibility for diabetes care without addressing these barriers.