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Abstract

Objective
To compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of two methods of screening for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in Australian community pharmacy.

Methods
A random sample of 30 pharmacies were allocated into two groups: (i) tick test only (TTO); or (ii) sequential screening (SS) method. Both methods used the same initial risk assessment for type 2 diabetes. Subjects with one or more risk factors in the TTO group were offered a referral to their general practitioner (GP). Under the SS method, patients with risk factors were offered a capillary blood glucose test and those identified as being at risk referred to a GP. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these approaches was assessed.

Results
A total of 1286 people were screened over a period of 3 months. The rate of diagnosis of diabetes was significantly higher for SS compared with the TTO method (1.7% versus 0.2%; p=0.008). The SS method resulted in fewer referrals to the GP and a higher uptake of referrals than the TTO method and so was the more cost-effective screening method.

Conclusions
SS is the superior method from a cost and efficacy perspective. It should be considered as the preferred option for screening by community based pharmacists in Australia.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Krass, I and Taylor, S and Wilkinson, J and Armour, C and Mitchell, B and Clarke, P and Brillant, M and Dienaar, R and Hughes, J and Lau, P and Peterson, GM and Stewart, K
Keywords:	Near patient testing, Case detection, Type 2 diabetes, Community pharmacy, Cost-effectiveness
Journal or Publication Title:	Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0168-8227
DOI / ID Number:	10.1016/j.diabres.2006.06.022
Additional Information:	The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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