Effectiveness of specialist involvement in case discussion conferences with primary healthcare providers on the management of type 2 diabetes patients: a study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: In supporting primary healthcare in delivering high-quality care for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), previous research emphasized strategies to facilitate communication and collaboration between primary healthcare providers and hospitals. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of case discussion conferences between specialists from hospitals and primary healthcare providers in China on the optimization of diabetes management and the improvement of patient health outcomes.

Methods: This study will be a parallel cluster randomized controlled trial in which primary healthcare institutions in Shouguang city and Shangsi County will be randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The intervention will involve regular case discussion conferences where attendants will meet to discuss complex cases with patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, exchange experiences, and seek and provide expert advice. Family doctor teams from primary healthcare institutions and specialists from secondary or tertiary hospitals will engage in these conferences. Data will be collected at baseline and at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The primary clinical outcome measures will focus on the changes in the HbA1c and FBG levels of patients under management. The secondary outcomes will include other physiological indicators, such as blood pressure, BMI, and cholesterol. The evaluation will extend to changes in the capabilities and behaviors of primary healthcare providers. Furthermore, the feasibility and adherence of this intervention will be thoroughly assessed.

Discussion: This study is designed to generate robust evidence on the effectiveness of case discussion conferences, an interprofessional collaboration strategy, in enhancing diabetes care delivery in primary healthcare, with the ultimate goal of improving patient health outcomes.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300078829. Registered on December 19, 2023. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=210293.