Inclusion of educational messages in laboratory reports aids to complete the diagnostic workup of hyperglycemia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether educational messages regarding oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) indications in laboratory reports increase the number of OGTTs appropriately requested.


METHODS
The following message was printed on the lab reports of individuals with a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l: "A FPG between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l is considered abnormal by the American Diabetes Association (impaired fasting glucose). An OGTT is recommended if the patient does not have a diagnosis of diabetes and suffers from conditions associated with an increased risk for having type 2 diabetes (i.e., overweight, high blood pressure, abnormal plasma lipids or family history of diabetes)." The number of educational messages printed was 81,099.


RESULTS
The intervention resulted in a significant increase in the number of OGTTs requested, from 78 +/- 19 to 268 +/- 48 tests per month. It also resulted in a greater proportion of case subjects that had an abnormal OGTT result.


CONCLUSIONS
Educational messages in laboratory reports aid in the diagnostic workup of hyperglycemia.
Pérez-Jáuregui
José
J
Dirección Corporativa de Medicina de Laboratorio, Laboratorio Médico del Chopo, Alfonso Herrera 75, Col San Rafael, México City, México. jose.perezjauregui@proa.com.mx
González-Cardel
Ana María
AM
Olay-Fuentes
Gabriela
G
Reza-Albarrán
Alfredo
A
Mehta
Roopa
R
Aguilar-Salinas
Carlos A
CA
D003142:Communication; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D008800:Mexico; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012016:Reference Values
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin