We observed improvement in optimal type 2 diabetes quality of
care from the first to the second and third year of residency. With
the exception of diastolic and systolic blood pressure, there was
a trend for patients to be more likely to meet diabetes quality
indicators if treated by second-year and third-year residents. The
strongest and only statistically significant indicator associated with
year of residency was documented eye examination. Patients were
as much as five times more likely to have a documented eye
examination if treated by a second- and third-year resident as
compared with a first-year resident. This increase is unlikely to be
explained by patient clinical factors because A1C control was
similar in patients seen by first-, second- and third-year residents.
Only current tobacco use differed by year of residency, with fewer
current smokers seen by second-year residents. However, in multivariate analysis, tobacco use was not a significant predictor of
receiving an eye examination.