Abstract: PO0995
Racial and Ethnic Similarities of Adherence to Diabetic Hemoglobin A1c Testing and Control Measures Between Providers and Patients in Federally Qualified Health Centers in Eastern North Carolina
Session Information
- Diabetic Kidney Disease: Clinical - 1
October 22, 2020 | Location: On-Demand
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Diabetic Kidney Disease
- 602 Diabetic Kidney Disease: Clinical
Authors
- Balla, Aparesh, Rural Health Group Inc, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, United States
- Wurtz, Rebecca, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Background
Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that occurs when there is a dysregulation of insulin production and cellular insulin response, leading to hyperglycemia. The test for glycated hemoglobin, HbA1C, is the basic blood test used for diagnosis. There is limited exploration of the relationship between adherence to HbA1c testing, diabetes control, and congruent provider/patient race and ethnicity. This study examines the correlations among HbA1c testing, provider race/ethnicity, and patient race/ethnicity.
Methods
Twelve consecutive monthly diabetes reports and dashboards compiled by the Rural Health Group, starting on October 1, 2018, were retrieved and analyzed in the investigation of the racial and ethnic similarities of HbA1c adherence to diabetic testing and control measures between providers and patients in the Federal Qualified Health Center in eastern North Carolina. Comparative statistical analyses permitted the juxtaposition of the comparison groups of patients and providers: White, Black, Hispanic, or other.
Results
As per adherence with the order of testing, there were no statistically significant differences found for White, Black, or Hispanic patients when they were seen by different providers. However, as per adherence to diabetes control measures, Black patients seen by Black providers were much more likely to have an HbA1c < 7% (52% when seen by a Black provider vs. only 45% when seen by a White provider, p-value = 0.0001, 95% confidence interval). Similarly, White patients had an HbA1c < 7% 50% of the time when seen by White providers, but only 43% of the time when seen by Black providers (p-value < 0.05). Therefore, patients who are the same race as their providers are statistically more likely to have an HbA1c, which reflects adherence to diabetes control measures.
Conclusion
Patients who are the same race/ethnicity as their providers did not play a significant role on HbA1c testing than patients who are the same race/ethnicity as their provider.
However, patients who are the same race/ethnicity as their provider were more likely to have a HbA1c < 7%, which was statistically significant and reflected adherence to diabetes control measures. This finding was particularly true of White patients to White providers and with Black patients to Black providers.