DOES HANDING OUT LEAFLETS TO PATIENTS AT REGISTRATION INCREASE DIABETES

ABSTRACT

Background: Among Singaporeans with diabetes, 1 in 3have not been diagnosed. A large proportion ofSingaporean adults are not current for theirrecommended diabetic screening.Objective: To determine whether handing out diabetesscreening leaflets to patients at the point of registrationin a general practice (GP) clinic would influence theiruptake of diabetes screening.Design: A randomized controlled trial with a follow-upperiod of 3 months. Outcome measured was whetherpatients did the diabetes screening test (fasting plasmaglucose).Intervention A leaflet on diabetes screening was givento patients when they registered in the GP clinic. Thecontrol group did not receive a leaflet.Setting: A GP clinic in Toa Payoh, a suburb in centralSingapore.Participants: 97 patients 40 years old and above whowere not known diabetics.Results: There was no significant difference in theuptake of diabetes screenings between the interventionand the control group (p=0.740).Conclusion: Handing out leaflets at registration in theGP clinic does not change uptake of diabetes screening.