Diabetes Prevention Engagement

The Diabetes Prevention project was led by the Health Inequalities Team. 

The team needed to understand why there is a lack of engagement with the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) in Mablethorpe and explore how they could remove the barriers for those people who are at risk of diabetes.

Background information on project/engagement activity

The objectives of the Diabetes Prevention project were to:-

• Understand the challenges that people face locally.
• Provide evidence of the best approaches of engagement.
• Increase up-take of the DPP.Increase cross sector partnership working.
• Develop skills in understanding and use of behavioural science to improve prevention.

Feedback from 2 co-production workshops and a survey conducted by Insight, showed that the main barriers stopping patients signing up to the DPP were:

• Many patients were not aware the Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) existed.
• Many patients were not aware of the Type 2 Diabetes risks and how severe this disease is.
• Many patients felt they would need more support and advice before signing up to the DPP.
• Many patients felt that messaging about Diabetes should be positive, accessible, and inclusive.
• Healthcare professionals and community connectors needed more knowledge and resources to properly promote the DPP.

Findings

• The project now has a good understanding of why there was a lack of engagement in the Mablethorpe area. This will define good practice for the project going forward and can be replicated in other areas.
• The communication materials have been updated using behavioural techniques to assist patients with their decision making
• Health care assistants now telephone patients directly to discuss the programme
• Referrals to the programme have increased significantly since the above changes.
• Engagement with people has helped shaped the communications around the programme
• Colleagues within the Primary Care and Communities Team, who already take the lead for Diabetes Prevention and the DPP will continue to monitor uptake of the DPP.
• The project has provided an adaptable practice process which could be utilised or adapted for use within other GP practices