Dr. med. Anke Bahrmann

Duration: 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2010
Center: Bethanien-Krankenhaus Geriatrisches Zentrum, Heidelberg/Germany
Mentor: Prof. P. Oster Research: Assessment project investigating the quality of nursing structures and processes and treatment of elderly patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in nursing homes

Background:
To ensure the best quality of treatment of geriatric patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in nursing homes, the structure and organization of their care must be of optimal quality. However, since diabetes mellitus is often only one component of multi-morbidity, treatment must take into account not only the specific features of diabetes therapy, but also the strategies for treating the co-morbidities, as well as the patient’s nutritional state and cognitive ability. These problems are all the more important because life expectancy and the incidence of diabetes mellitus are rising, resulting in a 42% increase in the number of patients with diabetes mellitus by 2010. Nonetheless, almost nothing is known about the quality of treatment of elderly diabetics in nursing homes, since no structured epidemiological studies have yet been conducted.

Aims:
As part of the Forschungskolleg Geriatrie research and study program, to study the quality of the nursing structure and processes and the treatment of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus in nursing homes, so as to establish the potential for improving the medical care provided by doctors.

Data collection and study design:

1. Using standardized surveys of nursing staff and doctors in at least ten different nursing homes, structured recording of the quality of processes and structures in nursing homes for treatment of geriatric patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
2. Structured recording of the organizational systems (qualitative and quantitative)in nursing homes for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, as well as treatment results, patients’ co-morbidity, cognitive ability, nutritional state and care needs.
3. The as-is analysis will enable an understanding of the potential for improvement (promotion of an interdisciplinary approach, team structure, optimization of current nutrition, diabetes medicine and mobility and introduction of therapy for potentially treatable symptoms) and planning of possible interventions in geriatrics (structured training for geriatric nurses, integration of in- and out-patient care structures, cognitive training therapy for elderly patients)
4. Comparison of the data obtained about the quality of care of elderly people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in nursing homes with the standards of current
   therapy guidelines.