title: The effect of a city-wide mass media campaign on the public awareness of diabetes.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether a mass media campaign about diabetes would increase public awareness and knowledge of diabetes, leading to an increased rate of detection of previously undiagnosed cases. A telephone questionnaire was administered to two groups of randomly selected members of the public before and after a 1-week mass media campaign. Cases of newly diagnosed diabetes were monitored by general practitioners. The median knowledge score rose from 5 (range 0-10) before the campaign to 6 (0-10) afterwards, p < 0.001. The knowledge score for a control group, questioned post-campaign only, was also 6 (1-10). The increase in the median knowledge score was mainly as a result of more people being able to define diabetes and give two presenting symptoms. This increased awareness did not however result in an increase in detection of new cases.
authors.affiliation: Professorial Medical Unit, General Infirmary, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Bodansky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D013689:Telephone; D006113:United Kingdom