Uptake of the NHS Health Checks programme in a deprived, culturally diverse setting: cross-sectional study

Dalton, Andrew; Bottle, Alex; Okoro, Cyprian; Majeed, Azeem; Millett, Christopher

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdr034

Cited by 120 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…If the intervention was rolled out in clinical practice, higher rates would be expected; for example, uptake rates to the NHS Health Check Programme, 228 which is not a research project, are double those reported in this and other research screening studies. Future research should focus on increasing uptake to screening in all groups.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities: the STOP Diabetes research project

Dunkley

Tyrer

Spong

et al. 2017

Programme Grants Appl Res

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BackgroundThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is believed to be higher among people with intellectual disability (ID) than in the general population. However, research on prevalence and prevention in this population is limited.ObjectivesThe objectives of this programme of work were to establish a programme of research that would significantly enhance the knowledge and understanding of impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and T2DM in people with ID; to test strategies for the early identification of IGR and T2DM in people with ID; and to develop a lifestyle education programme and educator training protocol to promote behaviour change in a population with ID and IGR (or at a high risk of T2DM/CVD).SettingLeicestershire, UK.ParticipantsAdults with ID were recruited from community settings, including residential homes and family homes. Adults with mild to moderate ID who had an elevated body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 25 kg/m2and/or IGR were invited to take part in the education programme.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome of the screening programme was the prevalence of screen-detected T2DM and IGR. The uptake, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed.Data sourcesParticipants were recruited from general practices, specialist ID services and clinics, and through direct contact.ResultsA total of 930 people with ID were recruited to the screening programme: 58% were male, 80% were white and 68% were overweight or obese. The mean age of participants was 43.3 years (standard deviation 14.2 years). Bloods were obtained for 675 participants (73%). The prevalence of previously undiagnosed T2DM was 1.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5% to 2%] and of IGR was 5% (95% CI 4% to 7%). Abnormal IGR was more common in those of non-white ethnicity; those with a first-degree family history of diabetes; those with increasing weight, waist circumference, BMI, diastolic blood pressure or triglycerides; and those with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. We developed a lifestyle educational programme for people with ID, informed by findings from qualitative stakeholder interviews (health-care professionals,n = 14; people with ID,n = 7) and evidence reviews. Subsequently, 11 people with ID (and carers) participated in pilot education sessions (two groups) and five people attended education for the feasibility stage (one group). We found that it was feasible to collect primary outcome measures on physical activity and sedentary behaviour using wrist-worn accelerometers. We found that the programme was relatively costly, meaning that large changes in activity or diet (or a reduction in programme costs) would be necessary for the programme to be cost-effective. We also developed a quality development process for assessing intervention fidelity.LimitationsWe were able to screen only around 30% of the population and involved only a small number in the piloting and feasibility work.ConclusionsThe results from this programme of work have significantly enhanced the existing knowledge and understanding of T2DM and IGR in people with ID. We have developed a lifestyle education programme and educator training protocol to promote behaviour change in this population.Future workFurther work is needed to evaluate the STOP Diabetes intervention to identify cost-effective strategies for its implementation.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02513277.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full inHealth Research Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 5, No. 11. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities: the STOP Diabetes research project

Dunkley

Tyrer

Spong

et al. 2017

Programme Grants Appl Res

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“…Dalton et al 25 reported a 45% uptake of health checks in west London. This was consistent with experience in south London, where uptake was running at < 40%.…”

Section: Uptake Of the Nhs Health Check Programmementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Higher deprivation has been linked with lower uptake, 61 which is consistent with evidence from other screening programmes, 16 whereas some studies have reported higher uptake in more deprived areas 27 or no relationship. 25 In the same trial, 25 the proportion of health checks and demographic characteristics were compared between patients who received a postal invitation and those whose health checks were performed opportunistically.…”

Section: Uptake Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced invitation methods and uptake of health checks in primary care: randomised controlled trial and cohort study using electronic health records

McDermott

Wright

Cornelius

et al. 2016

Health Technol Assess

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BackgroundA national programme of health checks to identify risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is being rolled out but is encountering difficulties because of low uptake.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced invitation method using the question–behaviour effect (QBE), with or without the offer of a financial incentive to return the QBE questionnaire, at increasing the uptake of health checks. The research went on to evaluate the reasons for the low uptake of invitations and compare the case mix for invited and opportunistic health checks.DesignThree-arm randomised trial and cohort study.ParticipantsAll participants invited for a health check from 18 general practices. Individual participants were randomised.Interventions(1) Standard health check invitation only; (2) QBE questionnaire followed by a standard invitation; and (3) QBE questionnaire with offer of a financial incentive to return the questionnaire, followed by a standard invitation.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was completion of the health check within 6 months of invitation. Ap-value of 0.0167 was used for significance. In the cohort study of all health checks completed during the study period, the case mix was compared for participants responding to invitations and those receiving ‘opportunistic’ health checks. Participants were not aware that several types of invitation were in use. The research team were blind to trial arm allocation at outcome data extraction.ResultsIn total, 12,459 participants were included in the trial and health check uptake was evaluated for 12,052 participants for whom outcome data were collected. Health check uptake was as follows: standard invitation, 590 out of 4095 (14.41%); QBE questionnaire, 630 out of 3988 (15.80%); QBE questionnaire and financial incentive, 629 out of 3969 (15.85%). The increase in uptake associated with the QBE questionnaire was 1.43% [95% confidence interval (CI) –0.12% to 2.97%;p = 0.070] and the increase in uptake associated with the QBE questionnaire and offer of financial incentive was 1.52% (95% CI –0.03% to 3.07%;p = 0.054). The difference in uptake associated with the offer of an incentive to return the QBE questionnaire was –0.01% (95% CI –1.59% to 1.58%;p = 0.995). During the study period, 58% of health check cardiovascular risk assessments did not follow a trial invitation. People who received an ‘opportunistic’ health check had greater odds of a ≥ 10% CVD risk than those who received an invited health check (adjusted odds ratio 1.70, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.99;p < 0.001).ConclusionsUptake of a health check following an invitation letter is low and is not increased through an enhanced invitation method using the QBE. The offer of a £5 incentive did not increase the rate of return of the QBE questionnaire. A high proportion of all health checks are performed opportunistically and not in response to a standard invitation letter. Participants receiving opportunistic checks are at higher risk of CVD than those responding to standard invitations. Future research should aim to increase the accessibility of preventative medical interventions to increase uptake. Research should also explore the wider use of electronic health records in delivering efficient trials.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN42856343.FundingThis project was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full inHealth Technology Assessment; Vol. 20, No. 84. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

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“…For example, the NHS Health Check programme has a 40% uptake rate. 206 A full discussion of the uptake to screening is given in Chapter 6. Future studies should look at methods for increasing the uptake to screening, particularly in hard-to-reach groups.…”

Section: Randomised Controlled Trial Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The NHS Health Check programme, which is not part of a research project, has seen uptake rates of around twice the level that we have reported here. 7,206 Second, everyone received an OGTT. The OGTT is costly, time-consuming and inconvenient.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A community-based primary prevention programme for type 2 diabetes mellitus integrating identification and lifestyle intervention for prevention: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Davies

Gray

Ahrabian

et al. 2017

Programme Grants Appl Res

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BackgroundPrevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global priority; however, there is a lack of evidence investigating how to effectively translate prevention research into a primary care setting.Objectives(1) To develop and validate a risk score to identify individuals at high risk of T2DM in the UK; and (2) to establish whether or not a structured education programme targeting lifestyle and behaviour change was clinically effective and cost-effective at preventing progression to T2DM in people with prediabetes mellitus (PDM), identified through a risk score screening programme in primary care.DesignA targeted screening study followed by a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT), with randomisation at practice level. Participants were followed up for 3 years.SettingA total of 44 general practices across Leicestershire, UK. The intervention took place in the community.ParticipantsA total of 17,972 individuals from 44 practices identified through the risk score as being at high risk of T2DM were invited for screening; of these, 3449 (19.2%) individuals attended. All received an oral glucose tolerance test. PDM was detected in 880 (25.5%) of those screened. Those with PDM were included in the trial; of these, 36% were female, the average age was 64 years and 16% were from an ethnic minority group.InterventionPractices were randomised to receive either standard care or the intervention. The intervention consisted of a 6-hour group structured education programme, with an annual refresher and regular telephone contact.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was progression to T2DM. The main secondary outcomes were changes in glycated haemoglobin concentrations, blood glucose levels, cardiovascular risk, the presence of metabolic syndrome, step count and the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.ResultsA total of 22.6% of the intervention group did not attend the education and 29.1% attended all sessions. A total of 131 participants developed T2DM (standard care,n = 67; intervention,n = 64). There was a 26% reduced risk of T2DM in the intervention arm compared with standard care, but this did not reach statistical significance (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 1.14;p = 0.18). There were statistically significant improvements in glycated haemoglobin concentrations, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, psychosocial well-being, sedentary time and step count in the intervention group. The intervention was found to result in a net gain of 0.046 quality-adjusted life-years over 3 years at a cost of £168 per patient, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £3643 and a probability of 0.86 of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20,000.ConclusionsWe developed and validated a risk score for detecting those at high risk of undiagnosed PDM/T2DM. We screened > 3400 people using a two-stage screening programme. The RCT showed that a relatively low-resource pragmatic programme may lead to a reduction in T2DM and improved biomedical and psychosocial outcomes, and is cost-effective.LimitationsOnly 19% of those invited to screening attended, which may limit generalisability. The variation in cluster size in the RCT may have limited the power of the study.Future workFuture work should focus on increasing attendance to both screening and prevention programmes and offering the programme in different modalities, such as web-based modalities. A longer-term follow-up of the RCT participants would be valuable.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN80605705.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme.

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Uptake of the NHS Health Checks programme in a deprived, culturally diverse setting: cross-sectional study

Cited by 120 publications

References 27 publications

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities: the STOP Diabetes research project

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities: the STOP Diabetes research project

Enhanced invitation methods and uptake of health checks in primary care: randomised controlled trial and cohort study using electronic health records

A community-based primary prevention programme for type 2 diabetes mellitus integrating identification and lifestyle intervention for prevention: a cluster randomised controlled trial

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