[Early Selection of At-risk Patients for Type 2 Diabetes in the GP Surgery by Medical Assistants - A Feasibility Study].
Objective:We investigated whether patients who belong to the high risk group to develop type-2 diabetes can be identified by medical assistants (MFA) in the everyday routine of the general practice by means of a few characteristics. The effectiveness of a diabetes-risk screening could be improved by a selective approach to patients who are at risk.Method:As part of the feasibility study 'SeRiFIN', patients who were between 20 and 50 years old and/or had a positive family history were approached by trained MFA in 6 general practices. To determine the risk of diabetes, the selected patients should complete the FINDRISK questionnaire. In the 5 control practices, patients of the same age group without known type 2 diabetes, were also asked to perform a risk analysis with the help of the FINDRISK questionnaire.Results:916 FINDRISK questionnaires were evaluated. In the selection group, 62% of surveyed patients indicated that there were cases of diabetes in the family. In 86% of patients the waist circumference was increased. A 30% risk or higher to develop type 2 diabetes in the next ten years was found in 22% of the addressed patients. In the unselected group only 7% of patients had a risk that had to be investigated. In addition there was a significant difference in the eating behaviour and the level of daily exercise between the selection an the control group. The training of MFA as well as the implementation of the intervention were well received and considered feasible to conduct in addition to the routine work of MFA. Furthermore MFA expressed their astonishment at the effectiveness of this pre-selection.Conclusion:After training MFA recognise patients at risk for type 2 diabetes reliably in their everyday practice routine. The targeted approach to patients at risk can be delegated to the MFA. Thus, the time resources of general practitioners can be more effectively used for prevention treatment. Especially cardiovascular risk patients should benefit from the earliest possible identification and intervention.
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Schnakenberg
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Rothe
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Bleckwenn
D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058006:General Practice; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010823:Physician Assistants; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult