The impact of sharing personalised clinical information with people with type 2 diabetes prior to their consultation: A pilot randomised controlled trial.

AIM: To assess the impact of sharing personalised clinical information with people with type 2 diabetes prior to their out-patient consultation on patient involvement during the consultation, diabetes self-management self-efficacy and glycaemic control.

METHODS

A pilot three-arm randomised controlled trial. The 'intervention booklet' group received a booklet including personalised clinical information, a 'general information booklet' control group received a booklet with no personalised clinical information and a 'usual care' control group received no written information.

RESULTS

136 people took part. The intervention group were significantly more likely to have shown the booklet to a 'significant other', (48% V 23%, p<0.05), brought the booklet with them to the clinic (85% V 35%, p<0.005) and to refer to the booklet during the consultation (45% V 13%, p<0.005). No significant differences in patient involvement during the consultation, diabetes management self-efficacy or glycaemic control were found between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Although participants found it useful to receive their clinical results, no differences were found in the patient outcomes measured.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Further pilot work on the timing of the intervention, who it is targeted at and what outcomes are measured is warranted before proceeding to a full-scale RCT.