3rd International DAWN Summit, Friday April 28, 2006

BACKGROUND

The global DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes Wishes and Needs) study in 2001, across 13 countries, the largest of its kind, demonstrated that huge gaps exist today between the educational and psychosocial needs of people with diabetes and the availability of educational and psychosocial support resources in the diabetes healthcare system^{1 - 3}.

To put the DAWN study findings into practice, people with diabetes, healthcare professionals, decision makers and representatives from diabetes organisations from more than 31 countries gathered in 2002 and 2003 to define the DAWN Worldwide Call to Action^{4 - 5} for improved educational and psychosocial support for people with diabetes.

Five key goals for improved care on a global scale were identified.

To change the course of diabetes, we must:

1. Enhance the communication between people with diabetes and healthcare professionals
2. Promote improved communication and co-ordination among healthcare professionals
3. Promote active self-management
4. Reduce the barriers to effective therapy
5. Improve psychological care for people with diabetes

Today, the DAWN programme, a global Novo Nordisk initiative in close collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), facilitates best practice sharing and concerted advocacy and action in more than 25 countries.
As a result, awareness of the importance of addressing the person behind the disease has increased and sustainable and innovative models for implementing truly patient-centred diabetes care on a national and regional level have been identified. Validated tools, models and training programs have emerged to support healthcare professionals, people with diabetes and decision makers in making the required changes to enable people with diabetes achieve improved health and quality of life.
However, much remains to be done to change the priorities of healthcare systems towards prevention, patient-centred care and large-scale implementation of cost-effective sustainable solutions for daily care that allow all people with diabetes to benefit, including those from underprivileged communities.

• Best practice sharing worldwide on how to successfully deliver patient-centred care for patients with chronic illness.
• Facilitate new dialogue and partnerships between all key stakeholders in diabetes worldwide to address the rapidly growing burden of the disease.
• Define priorities for concerted action and advocacy to implement a truly patient-centred chronic care and prevention model on a national and regional basis to reduce the disparities in health and the overall burden of chronic disease.
• Introduce new initiatives to improve health and quality of life for people with diabetes and those at risk especially among underprivileged minority populations, such as children, elderly, ethnic minorities and low-income minorities.

F. Snoek, The Netherlands, Chair
I. Brorly, Denmark
R. Colagiuri, Australia
N. Geelhoed, The Netherlands
H. Ishii, Japan
L. Kleinebreil, France
R. Landgraf, Germany
T. Lauritzen, Denmark
A. Ramachandran, India
R. Rubin, United States
S. Skovlund, Denmark

DAWN References:

1. M. Peyrot; R.R. Rubin; T. Lauritzen; F.J. Snoek; D. Matthews; S.E. Skovlund on behalf of the DAWN International Advisory Board: Psychosocial Problems and Barriers to Improved Diabetes Management: Results of the Cross-national Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs (DAWN) Study. Diabetic Medicine 22, 1379–1385 (2005).
2. M. Peyrot; R.R.Rubin; T. Lauritzen; S.E. Skovlund; F.J. Snoek; D.R. Matthews;
   R. Landgraf; L.Kleinebreil on behalf of the International DAWN Advisory Board: Resistance to Insulin Therapy among Patients and Providers: Results of the Cross- Peyrot et al: Patient and Provider Perceptions of Care for Diabetes: Results of the Cross-national DAWN Study. Diabetes Care, Vol 28, Issue 11, 2673-2679, 2005.
3. M. Peyrot; R.R. Rubin; T. Lauritzen; S.E. Skovlund; F.J. Snoek; D.R. Matthews (6);
   R. Landgraf on behalf of the DAWN International Advisory Panel: Patient and Provider Perceptions of Care for Diabetes: Diabetologia, accepted for publication, 2006.
4. Skovlund, S; M. Peyrot on behalf of the DAWN International Advisory Board: The DAWN Programme, A new approach to improving outcomes of diabetes care. Diabetes Spectrum, Volume 18, 3,136-142, 2005
   5. IDF, Putting People at the Centre of Care, June 2004. Diabetes Voice Special Issue. http://www.diabetesvoice.org/issues/2004-05/

Additional information about the DAWN programme is available at http:www.dawnstudy.com