Management strategies to improve the quality of health services provided to patients with type 2 diabetes during the Covid_19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that the lack of control of the condition of patients with it leads to cause of many complications, therefore the aforementioned patients always need continuous and quality care to control their condition and during the Corona pandemic due to the restrictions, providing health services to these patients has become more challenging than before. Purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of determining management strategies to improve the quality of health services provided to patients with type 2 diabetes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methodology and Materials: The present study is a mixed study that its first purpose was conducted by using the scoping review method, then semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and service providers, the required information was extracted through content analysis. Finally, while holding a specialized meeting with brainstorming method, management strategies were proposed again and nominal group technique was used to prioritize them. Findings: Scarcity, reduction in quality and increase in the costs of some drugs, shortage of medical personnel, delay in following up the condition of patients from the problems of service recipients and from the staff's point of view, the lack of knowledge of patients in the field of disease control and the requirement for follow-up, the absence of all specialties The need was one of the important challenges during the pandemic period. Access to government rates and increasing the quality of medicinal items and reducing pharmaceutical costs, individual-social support and enabling the system to use telemedicine for patient care and increasing budget allocation in the use of new and digital technologies in the field of health is one of the mentioned management strategies. Conclusion: Analysis and presenting solutions according to the identified challenges and requirements and considering them in the health system plans in the future will improve the quality of services, in which case the entire society will benefit. Keywords: Management Strategies, Quality Improvement, Type 2 diabetes, Epidemic, Covid-19