The Impact of a Family Doctor Contract Service on Outcomes for Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Zhejiang Province

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of family doctor contract service on the health management in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients over a 24-month period. According to whether patients signing contracts with family doctors or not, the contracting status was divided into contracted and noncontracted. The analysis of covariance was used to examine changes in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid parameters between the two groups. The hazard ratios for incident diabetes-related complications were calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model. Of the 2310 patients, 1155 were contracted. The contracted patients displayed the improved fasting blood glucose control and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level than the noncontracted group. Patients signed up with family doctors had a lower risk of diabetes-related complications than those who did not. The data suggested that family doctor contract service might help to achieve better T2DM control.