Perceived diabetes status is independently associated with glucose monitoring behaviour among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Aims: To investigate if patients' perceptions of their diabetes status is related to blood glucose self-monitoring (SMBG) behaviour, independent of self-reported disease severity.

Methods: The setting of this study was a cross-sectional study among 1561 patients, 18 years or older, who filled at least two prescriptions for any glucose lowering drug between March 2002 and 2003 in the Netherlands. Using a 30-item self-administered questionnaire, data on self-monitoring behaviour (frequency of test strip use and objective of self-monitoring), perceived diabetes status and disease severity were gathered.

Differences in the association between structural factors and diabetes self-monitoring support.

Objective: To determine if the association between the level of community pharmacy diabetes services and six of its reported determinants is influenced by the definition of these services.

Method: Cross-sectional survey among 97% of all Dutch community pharmacies (1,642) registered in 2004. Seven definitions of self-monitoring support (support to patients performing self-monitoring of blood glucose) were constructed: one based on the Dutch pharmacy practice guideline (containing five activities related to patient counselling, calibration and dispensing), one based on patient counselling activities only and five definitions based on each separate activity.

Effect of drug combinations on admission for recurrent myocardial infarction.

Objective: To determine the effect of the number of different drugs with adherence to medication of at least 70% on recurrent admission for myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with a history of MI.

Design: Nested case-control study in a dynamic cohort.

Setting: PHARMO database that contains pharmacy dispensing records and hospital discharge records of 350,000 Dutch citizens.

Regional influences on the dispensing of glucose test strips in Dutch community pharmacies.

Background: Pharmacy practice guidelines promote the role of community pharmacies in self-monitoring of blood glucose. However, variations between Dutch pharmacies exist in the proportion of patients to whom test strips are dispensed.

Objective: To assess whether variations between community pharmacies in dispensing of blood glucose test strips can be explained by differences in patient characteristics and the region in which the pharmacy is located.