Why good news is not bad news
24 February 2010
A team led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the MRC Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge followed patients from 15 general practices in the ADDITION (Cambridge) trial, which is looking at the effectiveness of a screening and treatment strategy for type 2 diabetes. At ten practices, patients were invited to be screened for diabetes; at five control practices, patients were not screened.
People who tested negative for diabetes did not appear to be falsely reassured by their results. Comparing patients who had a negative test result with patients in the control group showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of people’s perceived risk of diabetes in the future, or how healthy they saw themselves. The two groups also scored similarly on their intentions to adopt health behaviours - including cutting down on the fat and sugar they eat, and doing more exercise.
The researchers conclude that widespread diabetes screening is unlikely to lead to an increase in unhealthy behaviour - good news for the estimated 500 000 people in the UK with undiagnosed diabetes, who may well benefit from screening.
Image credit: Randy Plett/iStockphoto
Reference
Paddison CAM et al. Are people with negative diabetes screening tests falsely reassured? Parallel group cohort study embedded in the ADDITION (Cambridge) randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2009;339:b4535.
