Facilitators and Barriers to Effective Implementation of Interprofessional Care for Type 2 Diabetes in the Elderly Population of the Southern Africa Development Community: A Systematic Review

Background: The management of older diabetic patients in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has been described by several authors as poor due to several constraints and lack of a team care approach. This systematic review aimed to investigate the facilitators and barriers to the effective implementation of interprofessional care (IPC) of the elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in the SADC region. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework in the search for relevant articles. Out of a total of 155 relevant articles, only 8 articles matched the set criteria and were selected for the final review. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used in the review. Results: The identified facilitators include providing decision support to healthcare workers, training of healthcare workers, use of local languages during the training sessions, and use of certified guidelines in the management of not only T2D but also all the other disease conditions. Barriers like ill-equipped patients with limited opportunities for education and counseling, enormous workload due to staff shortages, and loss to follow-up, among others, were equally identified. Conclusions: This systematic review identifies key facilitators and barriers to implementing effective interprofessional care for type 2 diabetes management in the elderly population of the SADC. Understanding these factors can help healthcare professionals optimize their collaborative efforts, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and improving health outcomes for elderly patients with T2D in the region.