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Screening for type 2 diabetes is feasible, acceptable, but associated with increased short-term anxiety: a randomised controlled trial in British general practice.


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Authors

Park, Paul 
Simmons, Rebecca K 
Prevost, A Toby 
Griffin, Simon J 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To assess the feasibility and uptake of a diabetes screening programme; to examine the effects of invitation to diabetes screening on anxiety, self-rated health and illness perceptions. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial in two general practices in Cambridgeshire. Individuals aged 40-69 without known diabetes were identified as being at high risk of having undiagnosed type 2 diabetes using patient records and a validated risk score (n = 1,280). 355 individuals were randomised in a 2 to 1 ratio into non-invited (n = 238) and invited (n = 116) groups. A stepwise screening programme confirmed the presence or absence of diabetes. Six weeks after the last contact (either test or invitation), a questionnaire was sent to all participants, including non-attenders and those who were not originally invited. Outcome measures included attendance, anxiety (short-form Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory-STAI), self-rated health and diabetes illness perceptions. RESULTS: 95 people (82% of those invited) attended for the initial capillary blood test. Six individuals were diagnosed with diabetes. Invited participants were more anxious than those not invited (37.6 vs. 34.1 STAI, p-value = 0.015), and those diagnosed with diabetes were considerably more anxious than those classified free of diabetes (46.7 vs. 37.0 STAI, p-value = 0.031). Non-attenders had a higher mean treatment control sub-scale (3.87 vs. 3.56, p-value = 0.016) and a lower mean emotional representation sub-scale (1.81 vs. 2.68, p-value = 0.001) than attenders. No differences in the other five illness perception sub-scales or self-rated health were found. CONCLUSION: Screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care is feasible but may be associated with higher levels of short-term anxiety among invited compared with non-invited participants.

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Keywords

Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Family Practice, Feasibility Studies, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Middle Aged, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Patient Participation, Pilot Projects, Program Evaluation, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, United Kingdom

Journal Title

BMC Public Health

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1471-2458
1471-2458

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (G0001164)
Medical Research Council (G0200391)
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)
Medical Research Council (MC_U106179474)