Introduction and Objective: Approximately 8.7 million Americans live with undiagnosed diabetes, with one in five of them being unaware they have Type 2 diabetes, and an additional 97.6 million American adults have prediabetes, with disproportionate impacts on minority communities. Screening for prediabetes is essential for early identification and intervention in this population. The study objective was to determine if implementing a standardized diabetes risk screening protocol in an urban New York primary care facility increases screening and early intervention for Type 2 diabetes.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive design was implemented using a pre-and post-design and the Plan, Do, Study, Act Model. Participants were new adult clinic patients aged 35 to 70, exclusion criteria were: comprising pregnancy, screening declination, having Type 2 diabetes, cognitive impairment, or materials not available in the preferred language. The American Diabetes Association (ADA)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Prediabetes Risk Test (PRT) was used for screening diabetes risk (independent variable). Dependent variables included nurse-led diabetes prevention education, nutritionist referrals, and ordering hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). A three-month retrospective chart review included individuals identified using the ADA/CDC PRT for comparison. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation.
Results: There were 31 eligible participants; the ADA/CDC Risk Test correctly identified 74% (n =31) with HbA1c levels indicating prediabetes or diabetes. Pearson correlation analysis showed moderate positive associations between the ADA/CDC PRT score and HbA1c levels (0.359, p<0.05), age (0.623, p<0.05), and BMI (0.350, p<0.05). Performance improved in patient diabetes prevention education, nutritionist referrals, and HbA1c screening.
Conclusion: Study results highlight the importance of improving screening strategies and early identification in diabetes prevention and management.
C. Li: None.
