IADR Abstract Archives
A Novel Setting for Detecting Diabetes-the Community Oral Health Setting in Colac, Victoria
Objectives: To determine the feasibility of screening for diabetes in the Colac Community Dental Clinic in Victoria.
Methods: Participants attending the Colac Area Health Community Oral Health Setting were approached to participate in the study. Participants who provided voluntary consent completed the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment (AUSDRISK) Questionnaire. Those participants scoring in the intermediate to high risk range (>or=6) were offered an Alere Afinion™ HbA1c blood test (AS 100 analyser) at the dental clinic to determine the likelihood of diabetes. The process of referring patients to diabetes educators, General Practitioners and the Diabetes Victoria Life! Program for further follow-up is underway.
Results: Six hundred and seventy participants were approached to participate in the pilot study. Seventy five (11%) reported confirmed diabetes, 125 (19%) were currently being tested/monitored by their General Practitioner. Ninety six of the remaining 470 eligible patients declined to participate. Three hundred and seventy four people have completed the AUSDRISK Questionnaire with 192 (51%) in the high risk category for diabetes, 126 (34%) at an intermediate risk and 56 (15%) in the low risk category. Following HbA1c testing, 14 patients were in the high risk range.
Conclusions: This pilot study involved significant change management at the community dental clinic. Sixty-eight percent of patients presenting to the community dental clinic had either previously confirmed diabetes, were being tested by their General Practitioner for diabetes or fell into the high risk category according to the AUSDRISK assessment tool The significance of this study is to facilitate a holistic model of care that intervenes with diabetes testing. Identifying diabetes at an early stage will reduce further pathology visits for patients in the high risk group. This project has the potential to be replicated in community dental clinics throughout the region and beyond.
Methods: Participants attending the Colac Area Health Community Oral Health Setting were approached to participate in the study. Participants who provided voluntary consent completed the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment (AUSDRISK) Questionnaire. Those participants scoring in the intermediate to high risk range (>or=6) were offered an Alere Afinion™ HbA1c blood test (AS 100 analyser) at the dental clinic to determine the likelihood of diabetes. The process of referring patients to diabetes educators, General Practitioners and the Diabetes Victoria Life! Program for further follow-up is underway.
Results: Six hundred and seventy participants were approached to participate in the pilot study. Seventy five (11%) reported confirmed diabetes, 125 (19%) were currently being tested/monitored by their General Practitioner. Ninety six of the remaining 470 eligible patients declined to participate. Three hundred and seventy four people have completed the AUSDRISK Questionnaire with 192 (51%) in the high risk category for diabetes, 126 (34%) at an intermediate risk and 56 (15%) in the low risk category. Following HbA1c testing, 14 patients were in the high risk range.
Conclusions: This pilot study involved significant change management at the community dental clinic. Sixty-eight percent of patients presenting to the community dental clinic had either previously confirmed diabetes, were being tested by their General Practitioner for diabetes or fell into the high risk category according to the AUSDRISK assessment tool The significance of this study is to facilitate a holistic model of care that intervenes with diabetes testing. Identifying diabetes at an early stage will reduce further pathology visits for patients in the high risk group. This project has the potential to be replicated in community dental clinics throughout the region and beyond.