The following is a summary of “Measuring treatment burden in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM): a mixed-methods systematic review,” published in the June 2024 issue of Primary Care by Lin et al.
Measurement of treatment burden is crucial for optimizing the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Based on existing literature, this systematic review aimed to identify the most effective methods for assessing treatment burden in individuals with T2DM.
A comprehensive search across seven databases yielded 21,584 records, from which 26 articles were selected for inclusion. These comprised 11 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 4 mixed-methods studies that explored treatment burden in adults with T2DM, focusing on their experiences. Employing a convergent segregated approach with a mixed-methods systematic review design, a narrative framework was developed for rigorous critical analysis. Study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, while instrument validity and reliability were assessed using the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist.
Qualitative data from the included studies underwent thematic analysis, identifying a comprehensive measurement framework encompassing seven primary measurements and six associated themes. Core measurements such as financial, medication, administrative, lifestyle, healthcare, time/travel, and medical information burdens directly captured the essential aspects of the T2DM treatment burden. Conversely, associated measurement themes were tangential to burdens or lacked robust empirical support. Evaluation using the COSMIN checklist highlighted the Patient Experience with Treatment and Self-management (PETS), Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ), and Multimorbidity Treatment Burden Questionnaire (MTBQ) as instruments with robust development processes and high applicability for assessing T2DM treatment burden.
This review underscores the significance of selecting appropriate instruments to measure treatment burden effectively in individuals with T2DM. It also reveals a notable research gap in understanding variability across different resource settings, predominantly drawing from studies conducted in well-resourced environments. Future research should aim to address these disparities to ensure comprehensive management strategies that account for diverse patient contexts.
Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02461-x
