Feedback of personal retinal images appears to have a motivational impact in people with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA1c: findings of a pilot study. Issue 9 (19th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rees, G.; Lamoureux, E. L.; Nicolaou, T. E.; Hodgson, L. A. B.; Weinman, J.; Speight, J.
• Is Part Of: Diabetic medicine. Volume 30:Issue 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1122
• Page End: 1125
• Publication Date: 2013-04-19
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1111/dme.12192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-3071

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="dme12192-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="dme12192-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To conduct a pilot study to explore the potential impact of visual feedback of personal retinal images on diabetes outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec id="dme12192-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Twenty‐five participants with non‐proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA<sub>1c</sub> (> 53 mmol/mol; > 7%) were randomized to receive visual feedback of their own retinal images or to a control group. At baseline and 3‐month follow‐up, HbA<sub>1c</sub>, standard measures of beliefs, diabetes‐related distress and self‐care activities were assessed.</p> </sec> <sec id="dme12192-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In unadjusted models, relative to controls, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in HbA<sub>1c</sub> at 3‐month follow‐up (–0.6% vs. +0.3%, <italic>P</italic> < 0.01), as well as enhanced motivation to improve blood glucose management (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05).</p> </sec> <sec id="dme12192-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>This small pilot study provides preliminary evidence that visual feedback of personal retinal images may offer a practical educational strategy for clinicians in eye care services to improve diabetes outcomes in non‐target compliant patients. A fully powered randomized controlled trial is required to confirm these findings and determine the optimal use of feedback to produce sustained effects.</p> </sec> </abstract>