Evidence mapPaperPMID 30993528Full record

Observational studyActa diabetologica2019

High level of clinical inertia in insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes across Central and South-Eastern Europe: insights from SITIP study.

Matthew D Campbell, Drazen Babic, Uros Bolcina, Lea Smirčić-Duvnjak, Tsvetalina Tankova, Asimina Mitrakou, Peter Kempler, Andrej Janez

Open access · hybridAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Acta diabetologica, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
2.4field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Context factors in clinical decision-making: a scoping review.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Expert Opinion: A Call for Basal Insulin Titration in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Daily Practice: Southeast European Perspective.Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders · 2021
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 6 institutions in 5 countries.

Matthew D CampbellSchool of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. m.d.campbell@leeds.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5883-5041
Drazen BabicDiabetes Education and Research Institute AGADA, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Uros BolcinaDiabetes Education and Research Institute AGADA, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Lea Smirčić-DuvnjakUniversity Clinic for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases Vuk Vrhovac, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia.
Tsvetalina TankovaClinical Centre of Endocrinology, Medical University, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Asimina Mitrakou1st Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Peter KemplerDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Andrej JanezDepartment of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Educational Research Institute · SILjubljana University Medical Centre · SIKlinička bolnica Merkur · HRMedical University of Sofia · BGSemmelweis University · HUUniversity of Leeds · GB

Funding

AGADA 001.SITIPSTUDY
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsLittle is known regarding initiation of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Central and South-Eastern European countries. Therefore, we conducted a survey to characterise the prescribing practices of specialist diabetes healthcare professionals in this region and assessed factors that influence clinical decision-making regarding insulin initiation in T2D.

methodsA cross-sectional survey sampled 211 specialist diabetes healthcare prescribers from five Central and South-Eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, and Slovenia). A structured questionnaire was developed which surveyed current clinical practices and influencing factors, barriers to insulin initiation, and combination therapy prescribing preferences.

resultOnly 9.4% (20 of out of 211 respondents) of healthcare professionals would initiate insulin therapy in T2D patients at the recommended HbA1c threshold of 7-7.9% [53-63 mmol/mol]. Large regional differences were evident in insulin initiation thresholds (≥ 9.0% [≥ 75 mmol/mol]: Bulgaria 80.8% vs. Slovenia 13.3%). Psychological distress was recorded as the major barrier to insulin initiation. Health insurance regulations were ranked more important than personal clinical experience and clinical guidelines in clinical decision-making. Information from peers was more influential than manufacturer information, clinical experience, and continuous medical education, respectively, for insulin initiation.

conclusionsDespite large regional variation, there is widespread delay of insulin initiation from specialist diabetes healthcare professionals in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelAdultBulgariaCroatiaCross-Sectional StudiesDecision MakingDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Europe, EasternFemaleGreeceGuideline AdherenceHumansHungaryInsulinMaleMiddle AgedInsulinClinical inertiaInsulin therapy initiationType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID30993528
PMCPMC6675753
OpenAlexW2937259696

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.