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- Title
The prescription rates of glucagon for hypoglycemia by pediatricians and physicians are low in Japan.
- Authors
Matsumoto, Masaaki; Awano, Hiroyuki; Hirota, Yushi; Nagai, Masashi; Bo, Ryosuke; Matsuoka, Atsuko; Hamaguchi, Tetsushi; Takeuchi, Takehito; Nakagawa, Yasushi; Ogawa, Wataru; Iijima, Kazumoto
- Abstract
Purpose: Hypoglycemia is a common and life-threatening complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Current guidelines recommend glucagon for treating hypoglycemia in out-of-hospital settings; however, glucagon is reportedly underused in such patients. We conducted a doctor-oriented, questionnaire-based survey of pediatricians and physicians to determine the glucagon prescription rate and identify the reason(s) for its underuse in T1DM patients. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 415 pediatricians and 200 physicians employed at 66 facilities with >100 general wards throughout Hyogo, Japan. The following variables were surveyed: doctor's specialty, glucagon prescription rate, familiarity with glucagon use guidelines, barriers to prescribing glucagon, and attitude changes after education. Results: After 16 doctors were found to have retired, 599 doctors were enrolled; 305 (187 pediatricians and 118 physicians) returned a completed questionnaire. In all, 45 pediatricians and 104 physicians were treating T1DM patients, of whom 24% and 28% reported prescribing glucagon, respectively. The guideline familiarity rate among pediatricians was lower than that among physicians. The major barrier to prescribing glucagon was the complex preparation procedure required by patients/caregivers. More than half of the doctors who did not prescribe glucagon began doing so after being educated about the guidelines. Conclusion: The glucagon prescription rate was low among both pediatricians and physicians in Japan.
- Publication
Endocrine (1355008X), 2019, Vol 64, Issue 2, p233
- ISSN
1355-008X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12020-018-1793-z