Waiting for diabetes: perceptions of people with pre-diabetes: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to inform the development of an educational intervention for people with pre-diabetes in the UK by ascertaining individuals' experience of screening and diagnosis, their appraisal of the condition, and experience of health service delivery from diagnosis to 1 year post-diagnosis.


METHODS
Qualitative interviews directed by framework methodology. Fifteen people diagnosed with pre-diabetes from the community (Midlands, UK) as part of a screening programme.


RESULTS
Respondents consistently expressed the need for education and support at diagnosis. Dominating all respondents' narratives was the theme of 'uncertainty', which linked to two further themes of seriousness and taking action. These themes were influenced by respondents' prior experience and appraisal of both diabetes and pre-diabetes and their interpretation of health professionals' attitudes and actions towards them.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients identified as having pre-diabetes currently emphasise their uncertainties about their diagnosis, its physical consequences and subsequent management. Interventions to enable the increasing numbers of individuals with pre-diabetes to manage their health optimally should evolve to address these uncertainties.


CONCLUSIONS
Those delivering services to those at risk of, or diagnosed with, pre-diabetes should be aware of patient needs and tailor care to support and shape perceptions to enhance health-maintaining behaviours.
Troughton
Jacqui
J
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, United Kingdom. Jacqui.troughton@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Jarvis
Janet
J
Skinner
Chas
C
Robertson
Noelle
N
Khunti
Kamlesh
K
Davies
Melanie
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D018450:Disease Progression; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035501:Uncertainty