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© American Diabetes Association ®, Inc., 2002
Editorial |
One More Survey
It was one more survey. I don’t know about you, but I receive countless survey requests. Information is sought on diabetes products, pharmaceutical companies, and household products. I am selective in deciding which surveys to complete; they take precious time, and I sometimes question whether they will be used.
Diabetes Spectrum recently conducted its own survey. Eight hundred surveys were mailed to Diabetes Spectrum readers representing 
10% of our total readership. Fifty-seven percent (443) returned the survey—an excellent response rate. I would have expected no less of us as diabetes health care professionals. If you were one of the 57%, thank you. I assure you, the information is being used.
I will now share survey information I found interesting, including demographics and areas of interest for future topics. I will share the recommendations of our Editorial Board. And I will encourage you to assist us in continuing to meet the mission of Diabetes Spectrum.
The readership truly mirrors the multidisciplinary diabetes team. Of those who returned the survey, 29.9% were nurses with bachelor’s degrees, 16.9% were nurse practitioners or nurses with master’s degrees, 24.6% were dietitians, 4.5% were physicians, 3% were podiatrists, 3% were doctorate-level psychologists or social workers, and 2% were pharmacists. Other doctorate-level professionals, epidemiologists, and public health professionals comprised the remainder. Nearly half (49.1%) were certified diabetes educators. The largest number (40.4%) identified their primary workplace as a hospital, followed by group/private practice (20.7%) and a university setting (12.5%).
I was pleased to see the diversity among respondents in number of years practiced, having expressed concerns in a previous editorial1 regarding the mentoring of future diabetes care professionals. Thirty-one percent of respondents have been employed in the area of diabetes for 1–4 years, 42.5% for 5–14 years, and 19.9% for 15 years or longer.
Women comprised 84.6% of those responding, and the average age of respondents was 47.4 years. The median income was $55,900. Respondents see an average of 20 patients per week, spending an average of 61 minutes with patients during initial visits and 37 minutes during a typical follow-up appointment.
Most respondents regularly read Diabetes Spectrum, with nearly two-thirds (63.0%) saying they had read three or more of the past four issues. Sixty-three percent save their copies for future use. Of those who had read fewer than two of the past four issues, lack of time was cited as the reason.
Ninety-seven percent of the respondents found the information we provide to be useful to their practice, 93.8% believed that we succeed in translating research into practical guidelines, and 90.5% believed that our journal attracts articles from top authors.
Respondents indicated that they need more information for their own education on new technologies, protocol development, psychosocial issues, and pharmacology therapy. They indicated that their patients need information on exercise in diabetes management, psychosocial issues, medical nutrition therapy, and diabetes complications.
What did our Editorial Board conclude from this information? We believe that Diabetes Spectrum is a solid journal that is meeting a need. We believe that we must continue to be mindful that our readership is a multidisciplinary group of very busy people. And, we need to seek authors with expertise in the aforementioned areas of interest.
To this end, we are now posting information on our website inviting inquiries from potential authors regarding possible articles of interest within the diabetes care community. Although most of our articles are invited, we accept unsolicited articles for peer-reviewed consideration. We now encourage electronic submission of manuscripts. Inquiries and original articles may be submitted directly to me at BPCks{at}aol.com or via mail to Belinda P. Childs, MN, ARNP, CDE, 11010 W. 16th, Wichita, KS 67212.
I encourage you to take time to prepare and submit an article to Diabetes Spectrum. And I thank those of you who have already submitted articles for consideration. I respect and appreciate your time, efforts, and talents.
Please also feel free to contact me or any of our associate editors who coordinate the journal’s regular departments, which publish shorter articles on specific aspects of diabetes care. Frank J. Snoek, PhD, and Diana W. Guthrie, PhD, FAAN, CDE, BC-ADM, coordinate "Lifestyle and Behavior"; Geralyn Spollett, MSN, C-ANP, CDE, Debbie Hinnen, MN, ARNP, CDE, BC-ADM, and Richard A. Guthrie, MD, FAAP, FACE, CDE, coordinate "Clinical Decision Making"; and Ann L. Albright, PhD, RD, coordinates "Nutrition FYI."
As diabetes care providers, we are challenged to keep pace with changing technologies, treatment options, and issues associated with living well with diabetes. I thank you for continuing to support people with diabetes, and I hope you can find time to share your expertise by submitting an article to Diabetes Spectrum.
References
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1 Childs BP: What is our legacy? Diabetes Spectrum 14:180–181, 2001
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