Adherence to NICE guidelines on diabetes prevention in the UK: Effect on patient knowledge and perceived risk. Issue 6 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guess, Nicola D.; Caengprasath, Natarin; Dornhorst, Anne; Frost, Gary S.
• Is Part Of: Primary care diabetes. Volume 9:Issue 6(2015)
• Page Start: 407
• Page End: 411
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Type 2 diabetes -- Prevention -- Screening -- Risk perception -- Prediabetes; DUK diabetes UK -- HEI Healthy Eating Index -- NICE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence -- RPS-DD Risk Perception Survey for Developing Diabetes; Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2015.04.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-9918

Abstract

Highlights: We examined patients' experiences of diabetes risk assessment in primary care. Patients at high-risk of diabetes are often not informed of their risk status. Many patients are not informed of the role of lifestyle in diabetes risk reduction. There is scope for educating both health professionals and the public. Abstract: Background: NICE Guidelines for prevention of diabetes include identifying people at risk followed by cost-effective intervention if necessary. Based on assessment of risk via a questionnaire and/or blood test the intervention may comprise a brief discussion of risk factors and preventive advice or referral to intensive lifestyle intervention. Design and setting: In this cross-sectional study 59 subjects recruited from local GP practices were invited by letter to attend a screening for a diabetes prevention study. Method: Following a telephone screening during which subjects were asked whether they had been informed if they were at high-risk of type 2 diabetes, eligible subjects completed a Risk Perception Survey for Developing Diabetes (RPS-DD), a validated diabetes risk score and underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at a medical screening. Results: As measured by the Diabetes UK Risk Score, 44.1% were at high risk, 42.4% moderate risk and 13.6% at increased risk. 42% of patients had been informed they were at high-risk by a health professional. Those who had been informed of their risk had significantly higher perceived risk scores ( p < 0.001), higher knowledge scores ( p < 0.001) and decreased optimism scores ( p = 0.004), but were not more aware that diet ( p = 0.42) and weight management ( p = 0.57) can play a role in preventing diabetes. Conclusions: People at high-risk of diabetes are not being informed of their risk status as recommended by NICE guidelines. There is scope for education for health professionals and the public.