Commentary: Development of a graphic blood glucose monitoring chart for glycaemic control in diabetes mellitus: a modified Delphi method study.

Abstract

From a clinical practice perspective this paper highlights how the lack of a standardised blood glucose documentation tool may be one of the factors which contributes to the failure to recognise and instigate the prompt treatment of hyperglycaemia and prevent the potential life-threatening consequences for patients. From the lens of policy development, this paper demonstrates how, through a process of utilising the experience of expert nurses to promote consensus building, practice-based solutions to practice-based problems can be developed, which in turn has the potential to inform healthcare policy change and bridge the ‘practice theory gap’. Within the context of contribution to current literary discourse, this paper facilitates a greater understanding of how care for patients with diabetes is managed within other jurisdictions and the facilitators of /barriers to the provision of best practice care delivery recommendations. The contextual dynamics that have led to the lack of a standardised blood glucose tool, and difficulties experienced in the process of its development, are clearly articulated and may prove beneficial for both healthcare professionals and authors in meeting the requirements and expectations of potential readers. Information regarding the attributes of nurse experts highlights the dominance of the female gender (75.3%) within this cohort in Kenya and level of education preparation to Master’s degree (2.7%). This provides data for future healthcare recruitment, retention and education.