RESULTS— Among the 279 (72%) respondents, providers perceived that patients were
significantly less likely than providers to believe that key processes of care were important
(overall mean on 30-point scale: providers 26.8, patients 18.2, P = 0.0001). Providers were
more confident in their ability to instruct patients on diet and exercise than on their ability to
help them make changes in these areas. Ratings of the importance of access to care and finances
as barriers varied widely; however, 25% of the providers and administrators agreed that significant
barriers included affordability of home blood glucose monitoring, HbA1c testing,
dilated eye examination, and special diets; nonproximity of ophthalmologist; forgetting to order
eye examinations and to examine patients’ feet; time required to teach home blood glucose
monitoring; and language or cultural barriers.