Disadvantaged groups

Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Quality prescribing strategy - a guide for improvement
Scottish Government Effective Prescribing & Therapeutics Division
Polypharmacy icon of two pills

How to improve outcomes in disadvantaged groups

The 2019 Scottish Health Survey highlights inequalities in the prevalence of doctor diagnosed diabetes in Scotland.4

  • Men are more likely to be living with diabetes than women (7% versus 4%, respectively)
  • Those living in areas of higher deprivation are disproportionately affected (10% in most deprived quintile verses 4% in least deprived quintile), see Diabetes in Scotland for more detail.

Socio-economic inequalities in prevalence have increased progressively since 2003. Compared to those living in areas of lower deprivation, people with diabetes living in areas of higher deprivation in Scotland were more likely to develop fatal or critical care unit-treated COVID-19.63 In the UK, T2DM is approximately 3-5 times higher in ethnic minority groups.64

  • It is estimated that by 80 years old, 40-50% of South Asian and African Caribbean men and women will have T2DM.65
  • These groups are significantly more likely to be diagnosed before the age of 40.66

It is also important to note that people from deprived communities take more medicines than those from less deprived communities and therefore the medication treatment burden for these individuals is higher. The figure below shows comparison of medication burden across age groups, by level of deprivation.

 

Medication burden comparison for age and deprivation

Inequality in access to care and treatment

A number of cultural barriers have been identified that impact on minority ethnic groups accessing diabetes services, which will include regular review of prescribing and monitoring. These include:

  • strong adherence to cultural norms;
  • religious beliefs;
  • linguistic diversity/language barriers;
  • health literacy levels;
  • low accessibility of culturally appropriate services; and
  • ‘low concordance with western professional advice’.67

 

Service design - improving equity of care and outcomes for disadvantaged groups

The design and delivery of T2DM services can advance equity and inclusion for those most disadvantaged. As reported in Diabetes: my information, my support, digital access may not be suitable for all.

 

“Variable access to the internet and weak telephone signal mean that I can have difficulty in getting online or using a video call. The question of alternatives to digital access have to be available for those in digital poverty.” Person with lived experience, from Diabetes; my information, my support11

 

The following table outlines approaches that can support improved care and outcomes for disadvantaged groups.

Approach

Principle

Actions

Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA)

Adapted from Scottish Human Rights Commission

Aligns to the values of realistic medicine and person-centred care

Service design targeted at the people who need it most, through:

  • Participation
  • Accountability
  • Non-discrimination
  • Empowerment
  • Legality

Cultural competency

Understanding the key issues relating to culture, influencing the access to and experiences of care

Health workers should gain culturally competent knowledge of different cultures

Information should be available in individuals' first language to support their treatment

Discussion of medication taking during Ramadan.

Consider adaptations to ethnic foods to empower patients to adopt healthy lifestyles rather than to abandon familiar foods
Trauma-informed service design68 Traumatic events are more frequently experienced by people in low socio-economic groups and from black and minority ethnic communities Everyone in the Scottish workforce has a role to play in understanding and responding to people affected by trauma. Some will be specialists/ enhanced workers, but all should be informed or skilled to respond to those affected by trauma.
Co-designed services Co-designed services are more likely to be acceptable to both providers and end users, and therefore adopted and sustained Ensuring underrepresented and disproportionately affected groups are part of this process and development

Digital inclusion

In line with the Digital Health and Care Strategy69

Availability of digital services, such as MyDiabetesMyWay will undoubtedly improve service access, engagement and self-management

Include individuals at the heart of digital transformation of services

Ensure the infrastructure exists in health boards to digitize services

Others

  

Impact assessments

Links to wider determinants of health