Professional responses to innovation in clinical method: Diabetes care and negotiating skills

Examined the responses of family doctors and nurses to applying an innovative clinical technique and technology in the context of a randomized controlled trial. Ss were 30 doctors and 33 nurses from 29 family practices over a 3-year period and 200 patients with type II diabetes. The intervention was a new visual agenda-setting technology and other visual aids applied using the techniques of negotiation and motivational interviewing. Outcome measures included uptake of training, use of the methods, and group discussion. Results show that 100% of clinicians welcomed 2 or more formal training sessions. The agenda-setting technology was used frequently by 71% of clinicians and occasionally by a further 22%. High levels of engagement with the method occurred among nurses but many doctors also reported benefits. It is concluded that these family doctors and nurses have found a new technology to facilitate negotiation in diabetes consultations acceptable and useful. Analysis of outcome is now awaited. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)