Evidence
The NHS Next Stage Review puts quality at the heart of everything that we do in the NHS, with the need to take an evidence based approach to avoid unnecessary reinvention of the wheel.
DAFNE has a solid evidence base. The programme has been developed over more than 25 years of rigorous research. This includes a randomised control trial in Northern Europe and a feasibility trial and economic analysis here in the UK. Please refer to Fact Sheet Two for further information on the evidence base.
The UK Feasibility study1 revealed that DAFNE led to significant improvements in glycaemic control, quality of life, psychological well being and treatment satisfaction.
An economic analysis performed by York Health Economics consortium (YHEC)2 revealed that DAFNE would pay for itself within 4-5 years due to the reduced complication rate expected due to improved glycaemic control.
The DAFNE Collaborative is committed to the continued improvement and development of DAFNE through Research and Development. The DAFNE programme provides a unique test-bed to conduct research not only to improve Type 1 diabetes management but also to learn more about educational interventions in diabetes and long-term conditions more generally.
Further information about current DAFNE research can be found in Fact Sheet Eleven.
Quality and Productivity Challenge (QIPP)
In 2009 an evidence database was established (as part of the Quality and Productivity Challenge) populated with real examples of the best available, quantified evidence and examples for quality and productivity improvements, provoking ideas and discussions about changes that can be made locally in the NHS.
The DAFNE programme was one of only 56 examples of evidence accepted and published as part of the first phase of the database and is currently the only example of evidence for type 1 diabetes.
The DAFNE evidence can be viewed under long-term conditions here www.library.nhs.uk/qualityandproductivity
Public spending will come under increasing pressure and from 2011 and the Quality and Productivity collection will help the NHS identify efficiency savings that can be made while continuing to deliver high quality care.
- DAFNE Study Group. Training in flexible, intensive insulin management to enable dietary freedom in people with type 1 diabetes: dose adjustment for normal eating (DAFNE) randomised controlled trial. BMJ: 2002; 325: 746
- Shearer A, Bagust A, Sanderson D, Heller S, Roberts S. Cost-effectiveness of flexible intensive insulin management to enable dietary freedom in people with Type 1 diabetes in the UK. Diabetic Medicine 2004; 21 (5):460-67
Last Updated: 04/11/2011
