CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT05268081STARUpdated Jan 8, 2025

Specialist Conferences Between General Practitioners and Endocrinologists

An interventional study of Virtual specialist conferences in Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, sponsored by University of Aarhus. Completed at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-08.

Sponsored by University of Aarhus · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
25
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To support the primary care sector in delivering high-quality Type 2-diabetes (T2D), literature reviews emphasize the need for implementing models of collaboration that in a simple and effective way facilitate clinical dialogue between general practitioners (GPs) and endocrinologists. The overall aim of the project is to study if an intervention consisting of structured cross-sectoral and virtual conferences between GPs and endocrinologists about T2D improves diabetes care and increases diabetes competencies and management in general practice. This aim will be studied in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial design. This potential is yet to be fully tapped because of methodological limitations. Studies have also not yet systematically evaluated virtual conferences in the context of chronic care using a high-quality research design.

Read the detailed description

The overall aim is to study if cross-sectoral and virtual specialist conferences improves diabetes care and increases diabetes competencies and management in general practice. The expectation is that the intervention will:

at the patient level:

  • improve adherence to international recommendations on diabetes medication for patients with Type 2-diabetes (T2D)
  • improve the risk profile of patients with T2D with a reduction in glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure and cholesterol

at the general practice level:

  • improve the self-reported competence and confidence in management of patients with T2D among general practitioners and practice staff

The intervention consists of four virtual and thematic conferences: (1) T2D and cardiovascular disease and heart failure, (2) T2D and lipids, (3) T2D and kidney disease and blood pressure, and (4) T2D and a free topic selected by the general practitioner (GP). Before having the first virtual conference, an introductory webinar is held to learn GPs about how to use the electronic "Diabetes Overview" to identify and manage patients with T2D. Each general practice is assigned to an endocrinologist who they meet at all four conferences. The intervention was developed using the Medical Research Framework for developing complex interventions.

All general practices located in the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark are invited (n = 100). Block randomization is performed at the general practice level, and general practices will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or the control group.

02

Conditions studied

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Keywords

  • Specialist conferences
  • Virtual conferences
  • Family physician
  • Endocrinologist
  • Type 2-diabetes
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
03

In context

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

9,359 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; 1,318 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 25 is below the median of 80 across 7,525 interventional studies indexed under Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2.

Browse Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Aarhus is the lead sponsor of 1,274 studies on the registry; 183 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • General practices are eligible for inclusion if licensed and located in the municipality of Aarhus.
  • GPs must consent to participate in the intervention and collect the data needed to measure patient and general practice outcomes.
  • GPs must agree to bring patient cases to the virtual conferences who are ≥18 years, diagnosed with T2D and who they would like to discuss with the endocrinologist.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • None
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
25 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Virtual specialist conferences

    The group of general practices who participates in the virtual specialist conferences with endocrinologists.

    Other: Virtual specialist conferences

  • No intervention
    Standard of care

    Receives the usual, standard practice.

Interventions

  • OtherVirtual specialist conferences

    The intervention consists of four virtual conferences (45 min each in month 2, 5, 8 and 11) and an introductory webinar (90 min in month 1) to learn GPs about how to use the electronic "Diabetes Overview" to identify and manage patients with T2D. Each general practice is assigned to one specific endocrinologist they meet with throughout. The four virtual conferences are thematic: T2D and cardiovascular disease and heart failure, T2D and lipids, T2D and kidney disease and blood pressure, and T2D and a free topic selected by the GP. At each conference, the GP must bring 2-3 patient cases related to the theme and 1-2 patients of their own choice. The GP chairs the meeting. Each conference follows the same format: Check in (5 min); Short presentation by the endocrinologist (10 min); Presentation by GP and joint dialogue about theme-related patients (20 min); Presentation by GP and joint dialogue about theme-unrelated patients (optional, 5 min); (5) Wrapping-up (5 min).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Ischemic heart disease and/or stroke treated with GLP1-RA and SGLT2 inhibitor

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and ischemic heart disease and/or stroke being treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor

    Time frame: Month 12

  2. Micro/macro-albuminuria treated with ACE-inhibitor or AT2

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and micro/macro-albuminuria being treated with Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitor (ACE) or angiotensin-2-receptorantagonist (AT2)

    Time frame: Month 12

  3. LDL>2.5 mmol/L treated with Statins

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and LDL\>2.5 mmol/L being treated with Statins

    Time frame: Month 12

  4. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes in general

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing diabetes; managing patients with diabetes; managing patients with complex diabetes; managing patients with diabetes who are non-compliant. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

  5. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' skills in managing type-2 diabetes in general

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: assessing when it is appropriate to initiate insulin treatment; selecting the appropriate medicine, when patients with diabetes need three-agent antidiabetics; selecting the appropriate medicine, when patients with have co-morbidity; achieving a lower level of Hb1Ac in patients with diabetes; high treatment quality for patients with diabetes; setting treatment targets for patients with diabetes; referring the right patients with diabetes to the department of endocrinology. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

  6. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease or heart failure

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease; managing heart failure in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of heart failure in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and heart failure; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and heart failure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

  7. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and blood pressure

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing high blood pressure in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

  8. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and kidney disease

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing kidney disease in patients with diabetes; managing Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) in patients with diabetes; managing albuminuria in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes if they have kidney disease in the form of lowered eGFR; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes if they have kidney disease in the form of albuminuria; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and kidney disease. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

  9. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cholesterol

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing high cholesterol in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate cholesterol lowering medication for patients with diabetes; achieving a lower level of cholesterol among patients with diabetes and high cholesterol. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12

Secondary outcomes

  1. Ischemic heart disease and/or stroke treated with GLP1-RA and SGLT2 inhibitor

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and ischemic heart disease and/or stroke being treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) and sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor

    Time frame: Month 24

  2. Micro/macro-albuminuria treated with ACE-inhibitor or AT2

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and micro/macro-albuminuria being treated with Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitor (ACE) or angiotensin-2-receptorantagonist (AT2)

    Time frame: Month 24

  3. LDL>2.5 mmol/L treated with Statins

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and LDL\>2.5 mmol/L being treated with Statins

    Time frame: Month 24

  4. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes in general at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing diabetes; managing patients with diabetes; managing patients with complex diabetes; managing patients with diabetes who are non-compliant. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  5. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' skills in managing type-2 diabetes in general at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: assessing when it is appropriate to initiate insulin treatment; selecting the appropriate medicine, when patients with diabetes need three-agent antidiabetics; selecting the appropriate medicine, when patients with have co-morbidity; achieving a lower level of Hb1Ac in patients with diabetes; high treatment quality for patients with diabetes; setting treatment targets for patients with diabetes; referring the right patients with diabetes to the department of endocrinology. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  6. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease or heart failure at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease; managing heart failure in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of heart failure in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and heart failure; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and heart failure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  7. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and blood pressure at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing high blood pressure in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  8. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and kidney disease at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing kidney disease in patients with diabetes; managing Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) in patients with diabetes; managing albuminuria in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes if they have kidney disease in the form of lowered eGFR; selecting the most appropriate medication for patients with diabetes if they have kidney disease in the form of albuminuria; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and kidney disease. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  9. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cholesterol at 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the general practitioner is confident in: managing high cholesterol in patients with diabetes; selecting the most appropriate cholesterol lowering medication for patients with diabetes; achieving a lower level of cholesterol among patients with diabetes and high cholesterol. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 24

  10. Patients with T2D and HbA1c <58 mmol/L at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and HbA1c \<58 mmol/L

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  11. Patients with T2D and HbA1c <53 mmol/L at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and HbA1c \<53 mmol/L

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  12. Patients with T2D and blood pressure <140 mmHg at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and blood pressure \<140 mmHg

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  13. Patients with T2D and blood pressure <130 mmHg at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and blood pressure \<130 mmHg

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  14. Patients with T2D and LDL >2.5 mmol/L at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and low-density lipoprotein \>2.5 mmol/L

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  15. Patients with T2D and microalbuminuria and LDL >1.8 mmol/L at 12 and 24 months

    Percentage of patients with type 2-diabetes and microalbuminuria and LDL \>1.8 mmol/L

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  16. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' rating of relational coordination in the general practice at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the general practitioner about their collaboration with the general practice using the relational coordination survey that measures the degree of: Frequent Communication; Timely Communication; Accurate Communication; Problem Solving Communication; Shared Goals; Shared Knowledge; Mutual Respect. Range 1-5, higher score indicates relational coordination.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  17. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' rating of relational coordination with the hospital at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the general practitioner about their collaboration with the hospital using the relational coordination survey that measures the degree of: Frequent Communication; Timely Communication; Accurate Communication; Problem Solving Communication; Shared Goals; Shared Knowledge; Mutual Respect. Range 1-5, higher score indicates relational coordination.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  18. Questionnaire for the assessment of general practitioners' rating of using virtual conferences at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the general practitioner about using virtual conferences measured along the four dimensions of the Technology Acceptance Model: perceived usefulness of virtual conferences; perceived ease-of-use of virtual conferences; attitude to using virtual conferences; behavioural intention as regards using virtual conferences. Range 1-5 from "completely disagree" to "completely agree", higher score indicates higher user ratings.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  19. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' rating of relational coordination in the general practice at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the practice staff about their collaboration with the general practice using the relational coordination survey that measures the degree of: Frequent Communication; Timely Communication; Accurate Communication; Problem Solving Communication; Shared Goals; Shared Knowledge; Mutual Respect. Range 1-5, higher score indicates higher relational coordination.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  20. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' rating of relational coordination with the hospital at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the practice staff about their collaboration with the hospital using the relational coordination survey that measures the degree of: Frequent Communication; Timely Communication; Accurate Communication; Problem Solving Communication; Shared Goals; Shared Knowledge; Mutual Respect. Range 1-5, higher score indicates higher relational coordination.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  21. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' rating of using virtual conferences at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported assessment by the practice staff about using virtual conferences measured along four dimensions of the Technology Acceptance Model: perceived usefulness of virtual conferences; perceived ease-of-use of virtual conferences; attitude to using virtual conferences; behavioural intention as regards using virtual conferences. Range 1-5 from "completely disagree" to "completely agree", higher score indicates higher user ratings.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  22. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes in general at 12 and 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the practice staff is confident in: managing diabetes; managing patients with diabetes; managing patients with complex diabetes; managing patients with diabetes who are non-compliant; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  23. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease or heart failure at 12 and 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the practice staff is confident in: managing cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease; managing heart failure in patients with diabetes; assessing risk of heart failure in patients with diabetes; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and heart failure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  24. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and blood pressure at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported degree to which the practice staff is confident in: managing high blood pressure in patients with diabetes; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  25. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and kidney disease at 12 and 24 months

    Self-reported degree to which the practice staff is confident in: managing kidney disease in patients with diabetes; achieving high treatment quality for patients with diabetes and kidney disease. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

  26. Questionnaire for the assessment of practice staffs' confidence in managing type-2 diabetes and cholesterol at 12 and 24 month

    Self-reported degree to which the practice staff is confident in managing high cholesterol in patients with diabetes. Range 1-5 from "not at all" to "a very high degree", higher score indicates higher confidence.

    Time frame: Month 12 and Month 24

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus
    Aarhus N, Danmark 8200, Denmark
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Praetorius T, Baymler Lundberg AS, Sondergaard E, Tang Knudsen S, Sandbaek A. The effect of virtual specialist conferences between endocrinologists and general practitioners about type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a pragmatic randomized superiority trial. Trials. 2022 Dec 28;23(1):1059. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06961-y. PubMed 36578024 ↗

Related links

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Restrictions apply to the availability of these datasets. Register data will be used under license for the current study. Survey data and patient outcomes data are not publicly available as per the written consent signed by general practitioners and endocrinologists. Data are, however, available for research purposes from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission from study participants.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 8, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05268081
Lead sponsor
University of Aarhus
Collaborators
Aarhus University Hospital, Region MidtJylland Denmark
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 7, 2022
Start date
Jan 1, 2022
Primary completion
Aug 30, 2023
Completion
Sep 30, 2024
Last update
Jan 8, 2025

Study contacts

Thim Prætorius, PhD
principal investigator · Aarhus University Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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