BSPED2023 Poster Presentations Diabetes 1 (12 abstracts)
Acceptability of a general population childhood type 1 diabetes screening programme: a qualitative study – T1 Early
Claire Scudder 1 , Julia Townson 2 , Jane Bowen-Morris 2 , Philip Evans 3 , Sarah Jones 4 , Nick Thomas 4 , Jane Stanford 5 , Robin Fox 5 , John Todd 1 , Sheila Greenfield 6 , Kathleen Gillespie 7 , Colin Dayan 1,2 & Rachel Besser 1
1University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. 2Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. 3University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. 4Windrush Medical Practice, Witney, UK. 5Bicester Health Centre, Bicester, UK. 6University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. 7University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Background: General population screening for type 1 diabetes (T1D) using islet autoantibodies (IAb) is gaining international momentum, since screening reduces diabetic ketoacidosis, hospitalisation and identifies individuals eligible for future preventative treatments. Qualitative studies have only been undertaken in at-risk individuals (1). We therefore aimed to explore parents’ experiences of their child taking part in a general population T1D screening programme.
Methods: Children attending their pre-school vaccination at age 3.5–5 years (n=63) provided a capillary sample for IAb testing. We undertook semi-structured interviews with parents, after their child’s participation in screening, and before receiving the test result. These methods allowed us to get in-depth opinions from people with first-hand experience. We also provided postcards to collect open question feedback to participating parents and those that declined to take part. Data were analysed thematically, using NVivo 12.ResultsQualitative interviews: 15 parents undertook semi-structured interviews. Participants were uniformly positive about screening aligning to the vaccination programme, citing that they may have been less likely to take part had screening been a separate visit. Themes identified included being prepared in the event of a T1D diagnosis, feeling reassured by a negative test result, and the long-term benefit of screening outweighing short-term upset. Parents reported that the volume of blood was higher, and collection time longer, than expected. Postcard data 32 postcards were received, 29 from participants, and 3 from parents who declined. Themes identified were broadly similar to the interviews. Participants who declined all went ahead with vaccinations. Two parents cited not wanting to engender a fear of doctors as a reason for declining.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first time qualitative methodologies have been used to understand the experience of general population T1D screening, as part of a routine health visit. This approach may enable more widespread uptake and could be cost saving. When aligned to routine vaccination, the experience of childhood T1D screening was uniformly positive, however blood collection methods need development before future rollout.ReferencesJohnson SB. Psychological Impact of Screening and Prediction in Type 1 Diabetes. Current diabetes reports. 2011;11:454–459
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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