Heterogeneity in the systems of pediatric diabetes care across the European Union
Language English Country United States Media print
Document type Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study
- MeSH
- Diabetes Mellitus epidemiology mortality therapy MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Endocrinology methods organization & administration standards MeSH
- European Union organization & administration statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Internationality MeSH
- Quality of Health Care MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Pediatrics methods organization & administration standards MeSH
- Delivery of Health Care * methods organization & administration standards MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
- Reference Standards MeSH
- Education, Medical methods organization & administration MeSH
- Health Personnel standards statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Geography MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Evaluation Study MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
BACKGROUND: It is known that the systems of pediatric diabetes care differ across the member states of the European Union (EU). The aim of this project was to characterize some of the main differences among the national systems. METHODS: Data were collected using two questionnaires. The first one was distributed among leading centers of pediatric diabetes (one per country) with the aim of establishing an overview of the systems, national policies, quality control (QC) and financing of pediatric diabetes care. Responses were received from all 27 EU countries. The second questionnaire was widely disseminated among all 354 International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes members with a domicile in an EU country; it included questions related to individual pediatric diabetes centers. A total of 108 datasets were collected and processed from healthcare professionals who were treating more than 29 000 children and adolescents with diabetes. Data on the reimbursement policies were verified by representatives of the pharmaceutical and medical device companies. RESULTS: The collected data reflect the situation in 2009. There was a notable heterogeneity among the systems for provision of pediatric diabetes care across the EU. Only 20/27 EU countries had a pediatric diabetes register. Nineteen countries had officially recognized centers for pediatric diabetes, but only nine of them had defined criteria for becoming such a center. A system for QC of pediatric diabetes at the national level was reported in 7/26 countries. Reimbursement for treatment varied significantly across the EU, potentially causing inequalities in access to modern technologies. CONCLUSIONS: The collected data help develop strategies toward improving equity and access to modern pediatric diabetes care across Europe.
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