IS THE HBA1C TEST DONE FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS BEFORE THE FALLOW UP VISIT AT WAZARAT HEALTH CENTER?

Background: HbA1c (Glycosylated hemoglobin) level corresponds closely with the person’s average glucose levels for the previous four to eight weeks. Measuring these levels provides a long range prospective on how well glucose levels are being controlled. So , for the importance of HbA1c , we want to make sure that this test is being done within a week prior to the fallow up visit for all diabetic patient in AL- Wazarat health center. And ,this in turn will reflect how effective our system in correspondence with medical care given. Objectives: To ensure that HbA1c test done for the follow up of diabetic patients within a week before the visit. Methods: The sample was obtained from the data center in Alwazarat health center at Riyadh Military Hospital and included all CDC patients who attended the clinics on the period of 27-11-2010 to 30-11-2010 (4 days) total number of 258 patients. A retrospective search was conducted through the laboratory system and pharmacy system by using the patient`s hospital number. The indicator that was seen is weather the HbA1c test done within 10 days prior to the fallow up visit or not. Results: The results of our sample of 258 patients are the following : 61 pts were excluded as they aren`t diabetic 197 pts diabetic :HbA1c done within 10 days prior to fallow up visit in 107 of the diabetic pts (54.3%). HbA1c not done within 10 days prior to fallow up visit in 90 of the diabetic pts (45.7%) Conclusion: We found in our audit that the HbA1c was not done within at least 10 days prior to the visit in about 45.7% of diabetic patients who were following the clinics in the four days period. This results actually reflects that there is a problem in the pattern of HbA1c request.