The evaluation of the quality of medical care of the patients suffering from two chronic diseases at the same time: asthma and diabetes mellitus

Background. The medical care of the patients with chronic diseases is a huge challenge for the therapeutic team. The problems which the specialists and family doctors have to deal with in order to provide the proper quality of outpatient care were analyzed in relation with two chronic diseases - asthma and diabetes mellitus. Material and methods. The population which was studied included 542 patients, from which a study group was selected (group AC - patients suffering from asthma and diabetes mellitus at the same time) and two control groups (group A - patients with asthma only, group C - patients with diabetes mellitus only). The quality of medical care in group AC was compared with control groups. Results. In AC group only 40% patients visited Diabetes Outpatient Clinic and 48% patients had diabetes education. In the group of patients with both bronchial asthma and diabetes the knowledge of asthma and diabetes improved as the result of treatment. Conclusions. In AC group a different approach was observed of both the patients and the medical personnel to both diseases in the same patient. Asthma was the dominant disease and the patients as well as the medical personnel paid appropriate attention to it during the therapeutic process. Diabetes mellitus was considered secondary disease in relation to asthma and as such it was treated inadequately in relation to its seriousness.