Table 1 Summary of variables, data collection methods and instruments, types and timings of data collected
Variables | Instrument | Data collected | Level and data source | Time period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Structural and functional characteristics of practices | Structured telephone interview | Practice demographics (e.g., staffing levels; skill mix) and functional characteristics (e.g., frequency and type of meetings held, staffing levels, staff responsibilities (both in general and in relation to diabetes); access to external services within primary and secondary care | Practice Practice manager, lead GP or nurse for diabetes | March to August 2008 |
Individuals' self-reported cognitions about their organisation | Baseline organisational postal questionnaire | Respondent demographics. Perceptions of: organisational justice, team climate, organisational citizenship and job control and demand, in general and (TCI, JCD) in relation to the provision of diabetes care, work stress, Plans to change employment, sickness absence, identification of key staff involved in provision of diabetes care. | Individual All practice staff | September to December 2008 |
Individuals' self-reported cognitions about six diabetes behaviours | Baseline clinical postal questionnaire | Theory based perceptions and beliefs in relation to performing the six target behaviours. | Individual Clinicians* | September to December 2008 |
Behaviour data | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Simulated behaviour | Baseline clinical postal questionnaire | Scores on four clinical scenarios | Individual Clinicians* | September to December 2008 |
Self-reported behaviour | 12-month clinician postal questionnaire | Performance of the six target behaviours of interest over the 12 months since the baseline survey | Individual Clinicians* | September to December 2009 |
Patient physiological, biochemical, and drug data, and clinician diabetes management behaviours | Structured query of practice computer data | Patient physiological, biochemical and drug data and clinician diabetes management behaviours relating to the performance of the six target behaviours over the previous 12 months. | Practice Patients** | Conducted September to December 2009 Covers August 2007 to September 2009 |
Patient report of clinician behaviour | 12 month patient postal questionnaire survey | Performance of four of the six target behaviours over the previous 12 months. | Practice Patients*** | September to December 2009 |
QOF data | National database | Performance indicators for diabetes and primary care practice organisation | Patients** | May 2008 to April 2009 |