No substantial psychological impact of the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes following targeted population screening: The Hoorn Screening Study

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2004-09, Vol.21 (9), p.992-998
• Main Authors: Adriaanse, M. C., Snoek, F. J., Dekker, J. M., Spijkerman, A. M. W., Nijpels, G., Twisk, J. W. R., Van Der Ploeg, H. M., Heine, R. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - psychology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; diagnosis; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Female; Health Status; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Netherlands - epidemiology; perceived health status; psychological well-being; Risk Factors; screening; Self Concept; Surveys and Questionnaires; Type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2004.01276.x

Aims  To examine the impact of the diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes on psychological well‐being and perceived health status in subjects who participated in a targeted population‐screening programme. Methods  This study was conducted within the framework of a screening project in the general (aged 50–75 years) Dutch population. The final study population consisted of 259 subjects with a high‐risk score on the Symptom Risk Questionnaire; 116 of whom were subsequently detected with Type 2 diabetes and 143 who were non‐diabetic. The impact was assessed approximately 2 weeks (shortly) and 6 and 12 months after the diagnosis, using the 12‐item Well‐Being Questionnaire (W‐BQ12) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF‐36), respectively. Analyses of co‐variance (ancova) were used. Results  Approximately 2 weeks after the diagnosis, no significant mean differences were found on either the W‐BQ12 or the SF‐36, between the screening‐detected Type 2 diabetes subjects and the non‐diabetic subjects. Six months after the diagnosis, we found lower scores in the screening‐detected Type 2 diabetes subjects compared with the non‐diabetic subjects on the SF‐36 dimensions Role Physical (mean difference (95% CI); −8.2 (−16.2; −0.1); P = 0.046) and Role Emotional (mean difference (95% CI); −7.9 (−15.3; −0.5); P = 0.038). One year after the test results, no significant mean differences were found between both groups on either instrument (W‐BQ12; SF‐36). Conclusions  The diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes has no substantial adverse or positive effect on psychological well‐being and perceived health status, shortly, and 6 and 12 months after the diagnosis.