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| Author | Joseph Sant |
| Abstract | Diabetes Mellitus has long been recognised as one of the major health problems in Malta. With a prevalence of 10% and with nearly three quarters of the adult population in Malta being overweight, the management of the overweight diabetic through energy controlled diet need hardly be stressed. Investing in a quality dietetic service would improve patients' quality of life, decrease complications associated with diabetes and the direct costs to the health service. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine whether diabetic patients are being provided with the basic dietetic education needs efficiently and effectively. The study also aspired to improve the management process by analysing the present situation and assessing the ever increasing needs and demands for this dietetic service. A descriptive analysis research design was used in this study. A randomly selected sample of 120 Maltese speaking diabetic patients of all age groups, 90 from the Diabetes clinic, St. Luke's Hospital and 30 from the health centres were interviewed. The research instrument was a specifically designed structured questionnaire. Further elite interviews were also conducted with service providers. A literature review identified the needs of improving health services' effectiveness and efficiency leading to patients' improved quality of life and decreasing complications. Data was analysed using SPSS ver 12.0. Findings revealed gaps in the service being provided. One of the most important results was that only 29.9% had actually consulted a dietitian and 94% did not have a pending appointment due to only 1 part time dietitian once a `week for the whole service. This concern was also expressed by all service providers interviewed. With regards to patient satisfaction, only 19% said they were satisfied. 92% of respondents expressed their desire for a new dietetic clinic to be set up. This was also expressed by the service providers. With regards to patient dietary knowledge, it revealed good knowledge on certain aspects but lacking in other. The main educator according to patients was the doctor (80.3%). The findings highlighted the evident need to improve the dietetic service. A proper management structure targeted towards improvement of services, interventions and resources would lead to a better outcome of diabetes health care services. It also seems worthwhile for health service managers to invest in the education and training of health professionals to optimise quality. |
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| Key words | Needs Assessment, Dietetic Services Diabetes, Thesis, Health Services Management |