Healthcare Professional Perceptions of Blood Glucose Meter Features That Support Achievement of Self-Management Goals Recommended by Clinical Practice Guidelines

Abstract

Background: Blood glucose meters remain an effective tool for blood glucose monitoring (BGM) but not all meters provide the same level of insight beyond the numerical glucose result. Objective: To investigate healthcare professional (HCP) perceptions of four meters and how these meters support the achievement of self-management goals recommended by diabetes clinical practice guidelines. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-three HCPs from five countries reviewed the features and benefits of four meters using interactive webpages and then responded to statements about the utility of each meter and ranked each meter in terms of clinical value. Results: Meter D ranked significantly higher in terms of clinical utility for all 13 guideline questions (70%-84%, P < .05) compared to other meters. Endocrinologists (69%-85%), primary care physicians (PCP; 63%-80%), and diabetes nurses (DN; 80%-89%) consistently ranked meter D highest for all guideline questions. DNs ranked selected questions significantly higher compared to PCPs (8 of 13) or endocrinologists (3 of 13; P < .05). Meter D achieved strong endorsement from HCPs in France and Germany, followed by the United States and Canada, with comparatively lower responses from Italian HCPs ( P < 0.05). With respect to self-management, 80% of HCPs selected meter D as their first choice for patients with type 1 diabetes to help patients improve diabetes management or understand their numbers to help them stay in range. Conclusions: HCPs had strong preference for a meter providing additional insights, messages, and guidance direct to the patient to support achievement of self-management goals recommended by diabetes clinical practice guidelines.