Implementation of Social Support Assessment in Patients Aged 65 and Older with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus to Improve Treatment Adherence in a Primary Care Setting

Background: There is a growing number of adults aged 65 years and older living with type 2 diabetes. Research shows this population is at a higher risk of losing independence due to diabetic complications. Social support is a key component to help assist patients with taking medications properly, preparing diabetic meals and monitoring blood glucose. Adequate social support may improve the quality of health and well-being in older adults. Social support is not routinely assessed in primary care, but it is routinely treated. This evidence-based practice project aimed to educate clinicians about social support assessment and facilitate implementation of a social support assessment tool in practice. Clinicians were evaluated regarding their use of social support assessment and likelihood to assess for social support in the future. Method: Pretest and posttest questionnaires. The sample group consisted of a small group of clinicians (n=4) and a social support assessment tool was added to patients’ charts (n=34). The data was collected over 3 weeks and documented in Excel. Data analysis was performed using Excel. Results: Results indicated that seventy-five percent (3 out of 4 clinicians) did not assess social support due to time constraints and volume of patients. Twenty-five percent (1 out of 4 clinicians) used the social support assessment tool and found the tool useful in clinical practice. Conclusion: Future implications include reinforcement of educational opportunities such as periodic in-services regarding the importance of social support assessment in clinical practice to improve patients’ conditions and considering uploading the assessment tool to the electronic health record to promote feasibility of its use in practice.