Table 1.
Summary of results of the quality indicators in larger and smaller family practices.
| Small | Large | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean, % | SD | Mean, % | SD | P-value | 95% Cl | |
| Organisational quality indicators | ||||||
| April 2004 | ||||||
| BMI record | 71 | 12 | 74 | 9 | 0.18 | −9 to 2 |
| Blood pressure record | 86 | 7 | 89 | 4 | 0.05 | −6 to 0 |
| HbA1c record | 73 | 16 | 77 | 15 | 0.25 | −12 to 3 |
| Creatinine record | 79 | 10 | 83 | 7 | 0.09 | −8 to 1 |
| Total cholesterol record | 78 | 7 | 78 | 8 | 0.72 | −3 to 5 |
| Microalbuminuria record | 8 | 12 | 5 | 12 | 0.32 | −3 to 9 |
| Eye exam record | 40 | 22 | 52 | 18 | 0.02 | −22 to −2 |
| Peripheral pulses exam record | 23 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 0.80 | −10 to 13 |
| Neuropathy test record | 23 | 26 | 22 | 22 | 0.80 | −10 to 13 |
| Smoking status record | 43 | 14 | 45 | 15 | 0.65 | −9 to 6 |
| April 2005 | ||||||
| BMI record | 88 | 12 | 88 | 5 | 0.88 | −4 to 5 |
| Blood pressure record | 97 | 3 | 97 | 2 | 0.86 | −1 to 2 |
| HbA1c record | 93 | 5 | 93 | 3 | 0.53 | −1 to 3 |
| Creatinine record | 93 | 4 | 93 | 4 | 0.90 | −2 to 2 |
| Total cholesterol record | 93 | 4 | 92 | 4 | 0.30 | −1 to 3 |
| Microalbuminuria record | 71 | 20 | 68 | 21 | 0.46 | −6 to 14 |
| Eye exam record | 80 | 11 | 80 | 10 | 0.92 | −5 to 5 |
| Peripheral pulses exam record | 79 | 11 | 79 | 12 | 0.92 | −6 to 5 |
| Neuropathy test record | 77 | 11 | 78 | 12 | 0.66 | −7 to 5 |
| Smoking status record | 96 | 5 | 95 | 3 | 0.42 | −1 to 3 |
| April 2006 | ||||||
| BMI record | 90 | 6 | 89 | 5 | 0.55 | −2 to 4 |
| Blood pressure record | 97 | 2 | 97 | 2 | 0.85 | −1 to 1 |
| HbA1c record | 94 | 3 | 94 | 3 | 0.75 | −1 to 2 |
| Creatinine record | 94 | 3 | 94 | 3 | 0.71 | −1 to 2 |
| Total cholesterol record | 94 | 3 | 93 | 3 | 0.18 | 0 to 2 |
| Microalbuminuria record | 80 | 11 | 75 | 17 | 0.14 | −2 to 13 |
| Eye exam record | 85 | 7 | 84 | 6 | 0.74 | −3 to 4 |
| Peripheral pulses exam record | 81 | 10 | 80 | 12 | 0.57 | −4 to 7 |
| Neuropathy test record | 83 | 9 | 80 | 12 | 0.32 | −3 to 8 |
| Smoking status record | 96 | 5 | 95 | 3 | 0.48 | −1 to 3 |
| Clinical quality indicators | ||||||
| April 2004 | ||||||
| HbA1c ≤7.4% | 36 | 18 | 46 | 12 | 0.02 | −17 to −2 |
| HbA1c ≤10% | 64 | 16 | 73 | 6 | 0.003 | −15 to −3 |
| Blood pressure ≤145/85 mmHg | 48 | 12 | 46 | 10 | 0.48 | −3 to 7 |
| Total cholesterol ≤5 mmol/l | 46 | 10 | 48 | 8 | 0.40 | −6 to 3 |
| April 2005 | ||||||
| HbA1c ≤7.4% | 47 | 10 | 49 | 9 | 0.39 | −7 to 3 |
| HbA1c ≤10% | 84 | 8 | 85 | 5 | 0.48 | −4 to 2 |
| Blood pressure ≤145/85 mmHg | 63 | 11 | 60 | 10 | 0.25 | −2 to 8 |
| Total cholesterol ≤5 mmol/l | 64 | 8 | 65 | 9 | 0.80 | −5 to 4 |
| ACE inhibitors | 94 | 10 | 87 | 14 | 0.08 | −1 to 13 |
| Smoking cessation advice | 95 | 8 | 94 | 6 | 0.56 | −2 to 4 |
| Flu vaccination | 76 | 8 | 75 | 6 | 0.52 | −2 to 4 |
| April 2006 | ||||||
| HbA1c ≤7.4% | 61 | 7 | 62 | 8 | 0.67 | −5 to 3 |
| HbA1c ≤10% | 88 | 5 | 88 | 4 | 0.72 | −2 to 2 |
| Blood pressure ≤145/85 mmHg | 64 | 9 | 66 | 8 | 0.34 | −6 to 2 |
| Total cholesterol ≤5 mmol/l | 71 | 7 | 71 | 6 | 0.62 | −2 to 4 |
| ACE inhibitors | 96 | 7 | 90 | 9 | 0.001 | 3 to 11 |
| Smoking cessation advice | 97 | 5 | 95 | 4 | 0.24 | −1 to 4 |
| Flu vaccination | 80 | 6 | 79 | 5 | 0.52 | −2 to 4 |
Results represent the mean percentage (and standard deviation) of patients achieving each indicator in each family practice, and the 95% confidence interval) for the difference in means of the proportion of patients achieving each quality indicator between larger and smaller practices at the different time points. ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; BMI = body mass index.