This subsection deals with respondents’ practice of screening. The components of screening include the prevention of diabetes by raising awareness of diabetes, and screening employees in the workplace to detect and diagnose diabetes early so that the disease can be managed. Information will be presented on which clients were screened, at what age these clients were screened, what the average age range of employees was, what clients were screened for and which diagnostic tests were used to screen clients for diabetes in their practice.
In relation to the components of screening, 122 respondents (97.6%) indicated that they do raise awareness of diabetes in their workplaces. Chart 4.5a presents approaches used by respondents to create awareness of diabetes. One hundred and thirteen respondents (n=113; 92.6%) use one-on-one consultations, 81 (66.4%) use health promotion/education drives/campaigns and 81 (66.4%) use wellness interventions. A further 19 respondents indicated they used other approaches to raise awareness of diabetes including posters, pamphlets, emails, small group discussions and referrals. However, two responses were inconsistent for example citing “all/annual medicals”. The non-response rate for health promotion/education drives/campaigns was 31 (25.4%) and for wellness interventions the non-response rate was 32 (26.2%).
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Chart 4.4d: Respondents’ knowledge of range of measurements for FBG and OGTT tests
Chart 4.5a: Approaches used to raise awareness of diabetes
Chart 4.5b: Types of information discussed during diabetes awareness initiatives
0 20 40 60 80 100
OGTT with plasma glucose < 140 mg/dl (<7.8… OGTT with plasma glucose of 140-199 mg/dl… OGTT with plasma glucose > 200 mg/dl (>… FBG < 100 mg/dl (< than 5.6 mmol/l) FBG of 100-125 mg/dl (5.6 - 6.9 mmol/l) FBG > 126 mg/dl (> 7 mmol/l) 9 16 94 16 48 38
Knowledge of range of measurements for FBG and OGTT
OGTT FBG 113 81 81 0 9 10 9 31 32 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 One-to-one
consultations Health promotiondrives/campaigns Wellness interventions Approaches used to raise awareness of diabetes
Yes No Non-response 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Weight control Lifestyle changes Risk factors Physical activity
115 120 111 108
0 7 0 2 3 8 2 12
Types of information discussed during diabetes awareness initiatives
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Chart 4.5b outlines types of information provided during diabetes awareness initiatives. One hundred and fifteen (n=115; 94.3%) respondents provided information on weight control, 120 (98.4%) respondents provided information on lifestyle changes, 111 (91%) respondents provided information on risk factors and 108 (88.5%) respondents provided information on physical activity. A further 35 respondents indicated different types of information discussed during diabetes awareness initiatives. For example medication, complications, nutrition, foot care, family support, glucometer readings, risks, family planning, recreation, shift work, reduction of alcohol and signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Sixty-four (n=64; 50.8%) respondents routinely screened all their clients for diabetes. Chart 4.5c presents the age ranges at which respondents perform the screening. Thirteen (n=13; 20.3%) respondents performed screening for diabetes at the age group of younger than 30 years. An equal number of respondents (n=13; 20.3%) indicated they screened clients at 30- 40 years of age. Although required to select only one of the age groups, 23 (35.9%) respondents selected more than one age group while nine (14.1%) respondents did not indicate at which age they screened for diabetes. A further 14 respondents provided information however this information was inconsistent as they previously indicated they do not routinely screen all clients for diabetes. Therefore, information from this group of respondents was not included in the analysis. In addition, 54 (84.3%) respondents indicated that they would re-screen their clients annually if results of the initial screening were normal.
Chart 4.5c: Age at which screening for diabetes occurs
Sixty-two (n=62; 49.2%) respondents indicated that they did not routinely screen all their clients for diabetes. Only clients presenting with risk factors such as obesity, BMI above 25 kg/m2 hypertension, family history of diabetes and clients over 40 years of age were screened. Furthermore, those clients presenting with signs and symptoms such as: “polyuria,
0 5 10 15 20 25
< 30 years 30-40 years 41-44 years > 44 years > 1 age group
13 13
3 3
23 Age at which screening for diabetes occurs
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polydipsia, recurrent infections, glucosuria, dry mouth, nocturnal micturition and malaise”
were also screened. Another category of employees that were screened were described as:
“those employed as drivers, working in cold storage areas and bakeries, construction workers and those working in dangerous areas”. Screening was also performed annually on
permanent employees as well as during pre-employment or periodical examinations. One respondent indicated that screening was included when testing for wellness and another respondent indicated that screening was conducted according to company policy. A further four respondents provided information however this information was inconsistent as they previously indicated they do routinely screen all clients for diabetes. Therefore, responses from the four respondents were excluded from the analysis.
One hundred and thirteen respondents (n=113) provided information on whether clients with IFG or IGT were screened for diabetes. Forty-five (n=45; 39.8%) respondents indicated they did screen their clients with IFG and IGT for diabetes while 35 (31%) respondents did not screen their clients with IFG and IGT for diabetes. A further 33 (29.2%) respondents indicated they did not know if clients with IFG and IGT were screened for diabetes. Amongst the 45 respondents that did screen their clients with IFG and IGT for diabetes, 34 respondents did so annually. Ten (n=10) respondents screened their clients with IFG and IGT for diabetes at other periods citing “monthly, 3 – 6 monthly, when need arises or when
clients present to the clinic for minor ailments”.
Eighty-four (n=84; 70.6%) respondents indicated that the FBG test was used to screen for diabetes and 7 (5.9%) respondents used the OGTT. Twenty-eight (n=28; 23.5%) respondents indicated they used other techniques to screen for diabetes, of which 19 respondents described what other tests were used, i.e., “HbA1C test, HGT, urine test,
random blood glucose, a combination of tests and referral”. (See Table 4.6a)