Living with diabetes: rationale, study design and baseline characteristics for an Australian prospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes mellitus is a major global public health threat. In Australia, as elsewhere, it is responsible for a sizeable portion of the overall burden of disease, and significant costs. The psychological and social impact of diabetes on individuals with the disease can be severe, and if not adequately addressed, can lead to the worsening of the overall disease picture. The Living With Diabetes Study aims to contribute to a holistic understanding of the psychological and social aspects of diabetes mellitus.Methods/DesignThe Living With Diabetes Study is a 5-year prospective cohort study, based in Queensland, Australia. The first wave of data, which was collected via a mailed self-report survey, was gathered in 2008, with annual collections thereafter. Measurements include: demographic, lifestyle, health and disease characteristics; quality of life (EQ-5D, ADDQoL); emotional well-being (CES-D, LOT-R, ESSI); disease self-management (PAM); and health-care utilisation and patient-assessed quality of care (PACIC). 29% of the 14,439 adults who were invited to participate in the study agreed to do so, yielding a sample size of 3,951 people.DiscussionThe data collected by the Living With Diabetes Study provides a good representation of Australians with diabetes to follow over time in order to better understand the natural course of the illness. The study has potential to further illuminate, and give a comprehensive picture of the psychosocial implications of living with diabetes. Data collection is ongoing.

Association between poor psychosocial conditions and diabetic nephropathy in Japanese type 2 diabetes patients: A cross‐sectional study

“…These six indicators were also used in the 100‐thousand‐scale cohort studies in Japan, such as the Japan Public Health center‐based prospective study and the Japan Gerontological Evaluation study24, 25. LOT‐R, laughter, ESSI and SNI were also shown to be applicable to diabetes patients25, 26, 27, 28.…”

Association between patient activation and patient‐assessed quality of care in type 2 diabetes: results of a longitudinal study

“…The self‐report survey questionnaires and consent forms were mailed to a sample of 14 439 adult registrants of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), which covers an estimated 80–90% of the Australian population diagnosed with diabetes . Details on the study participants and overview of the measures have been reported previously . The response rate was 29% with completed questionnaires returned at baseline by 3951 respondents, who were diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.…”

Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors in a Diabetic Cohort: Results from the Living With Diabetes Study

“…The Living With Diabetes Study (LWDS) was undertaken to provide a comprehensive examination of temporal trends in satisfaction with care, quality of life, health care utilization, and disease progression in people living with diabetes in Queensland, Australia. 11 The objective of this study was to use the state-wide LWDS database to report on the frequency of breast and prostate cancer survivors in this cohort of diabetic patients and to examine demographic, clinical, and quality of life differences in diabetic patients with and without a history of cancer. Because issues may be cancer-specific, we focused on the most common cancers in women and men, namely breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men.…”