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Care for People with Type 2 Diabetes in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has one of the the highest prevalences of diabetes in the world. Improving the care of people with Type  2 diabetes is therefore a priority for its health system. In a paper published in JRSM Short Reports, Layla Alhyas and colleagues aimed to identify facilitators of and barriers to healthcare professionals' motivation in a specialist diabetes centre. A qualitative research approach was employed using semi-structured interviews to assess perceptions and attitudes regarding healthcare professionals' motivation in providing good quality diabetes care. The participants included specialist physicians, dieticians, podiatrists, health educators and nurses.

Important facilitators and barriers related to patient, professional, organization and cultural factors were identified. Barriers that related to heavy workload, disjointed care, lack of patient compliance and awareness, and cultural beliefs and attitudes about diabetes were common. Key facilitators included the patient's role in achieving therapeutic outcomes as well as compliance, cooperation and communication.

Alhyas and colleagues concluded that to improve the motivation of healthcare professionals in the management of diabetes in the United Arab Emirates and therefore the quality of diabetes care, several steps are needed. Importantly, the role of primary care should be reinforced and strengthened regarding the management of type 2 diabetes, privacy of the consultation should be highly protected and regulated, and awareness of the local culture and its impact on health should be disseminated to healthcare professionals providing care to people with diabetes. Also, greater emphasis should be placed on educating people with diabetes and involving them in the management of their condition.

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