A patient decision aid to improve decision quality and health outcome in type 2 diabetic patients

ISRCTN ISRCTN14842077
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14842077
Secondary identifying numbers 4677
Submission date
24/06/2010
Registration date
24/06/2010
Last edited
29/01/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing problem worldwide. People with T2DM have difficulty controlling their blood sugar (glucose) as they do not produce enough insulin to function properly (insulin deficiency), or that the body’s cells don’t react to insulin as they should do (insulin resistance). A large number of sufferers have poorly controlled blood sugar despite lifestyle changes and glucose lowering drug. This can lead to serious complications such as problems with the eyes (retinopathy), nerves (neuropathy) and kidneys (nephropathy), as well as significantly increasing the risk of heart problems. To control the blood sugar, a patient needs to either take insulin or another medication (e.g. glitazone). Patients often find it difficult to decide whether or not to start insulin for many reasons, such as lack of understanding or reluctance to inject themselves. Patient decision aids (PDAs) are specially designed resources which provide information to help people to make decisions. They have been shown to improve knowledge, help patients to understand treatment risks and benefits, address their values and roles in decision making. Few studies, however, have been able to show the impact of PDAs on patient’s health. The aim of this study is to find out whether a specially designed PDA for patients with T2DM can help more patients to make informed decisions about whether to start insulin therapy.

Who can participate?
Adults with poor blood sugar control, who are taking the maximum dose of anti-diabetic tablets.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group continue to receive usual care from their doctors, and are not given access to the PDA. Those in the section group are given a run through of how to use the PDA, which is then available for them to use. At the start of the study and then again after 6 months, all participants have their blood sugar tested to find out if their control over their blood sugar (glycaemic control) has improved. Participants are also asked to complete questions in order to find out whether their current treatment is different to when the study started.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration.

Where is the study run from?
Northern General Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2008 to May 2015

Who is funding the study?
1. National Institute for Health Research (UK)
2. South Yorkshire Collaborative Local Research Network (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Professor Nigel Mathers

Study website

Contact information

Prof Nigel Mathers
Scientific

Academic unit of Primary Medical Care
University of Sheffield
Samuel Fox House
Northern General Hospital
Herries Road
Sheffield
S5 7AU
United Kingdom

Phone +44 114 222 2099
Email s.l.hart@sheffield.ac.uk

Study information

Study designSingle-centre randomised interventional process of care and treatment trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)GP practice
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe development and evaluation of the effectiveness of a patient decision aid to improve decision quality and health outcome in type 2 diabetic patients making treatment choices
Study acronymDRN150 (PANDAs)
Study objectivesCurrent study hypothesis as of 23/07/2012:
The use of the PANDAs patient decision aid improves decision quality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are making a decision whether or not to start insulin in General Practice.
PANDAs is a cluster randomised controlled trial which has been carried out to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a patient decision aid (PDA) in general practice. The PDA has been developed by the researchers to help people with type 2 diabetes make an informed decision about starting insulin treatment.

Previous study hypothesis as of 26/06/2012:
PANDAs is a cluster randomised controlled trial which will be carried out to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a patient decision aid (PDA) in general practice. The PDA has been developed by the researchers to help people with type 2 diabetes make an informed decision about starting insulin treatment.
This study was conducted in South Yorkshire, UK, involving 49 general practices. Participants in the intervention group used the PDA followed by the usual consultation; the control group received the consultation (usual care).
The main outcome measures were improvement in participants’ decision quality (immediate) and HbA1c level (6 months later).

Original study hypothesis:
PANDAs is a cluster randomised controlled trial which will be carried out to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a patient decision aid (PtDA) in general practice. The PtDA has been developed by the researchers to help people with type 2 diabetes make an informed decision about starting insulin treatment.
This study will be conducted in Sheffield and surrounding areas, involving 30 general practices. Participants in the intervention group will use the PtDA followed by the usual consultation; the control group will only be receiving the consultation (usual care).
The main outcome measures are improvement in participants' decision quality (immediate) and HbA1c level (6 months later).

On 26/06/2012 the following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The public title was updated. The previous public title was 'The development and evaluation of the effectiveness of a patient decision aid to improve decision quality and health outcome in type 2 diabetic patients making treatment choices'.
2. The anticipated end date was changed from 01/10/2010 to 28/02/2011.
3. The target number of participants was changed from 1440 to 440.
4. The sources of funding field was updated. The previous text was 'National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) - Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO)'.
Ethics approval(s)North Sheffield Research Ethics Committee, 19/06/2007, ref: 07/Q2308/53
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTopic: Diabetes Research Network, Primary Care Research Network for England; Subtopic: Type 2, Not Assigned; Disease: Diabetic Control, All Diseases, Not Applicable, Education, Insulin Initiation
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 26/06/2012:
Control Group: No PDA used by patients or doctors (usual care)
Intervention Group: Brief training of clinicans pre-consultation, familiarisation of PDA by participants, use of PDA by patients and clinicians
Follow-up length: 6 months
Study entry: other
Details: randomised according to clusters of practices

Previous interventions until 26/06/2012:
Control group: No PtDA for patients or doctors
Intervention group: PtDA, for doctors and patients
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureCurrent primary outcome measure(s) as of 26/06/2012:
Decisional conflict as an indicator of decisional quality post-consultation and glycaemic control after 6 months (HbA1c).

Previous primary outcome measure(s) until 26/06/2012:
Baseline and six-month clinical data will be provided by the practices from the medical records.
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent secondary outcome measure(s) as of 26/06/2012:
Knowledge and realistic expectations of risks and benefits, post consultation.

Previous secondary outcome measure(s) until 26/06/2012:
1. The outcome of decision making will be glycaemic control (HbA1c) and persistence with chosen option
2. The process of decision making will be measured using decision quality indicators
Overall study start date01/08/2007
Completion date28/02/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants440 participants from 49 GP surgeries across South Yorkshire
Key inclusion criteria1. Type 2 diabetes mellitus
2. Aged 21 years and above, either sex
3. HbA1c greater than 7.4%
4. On maximum dose of oral anti-diabetic drugs
5. Advised by the doctor or nurse to start insulin
Key exclusion criteria1. Taking insulin currently
2. Difficulty reading or understanding English
3. Chronic debilitating illness (e.g., visual, hearing or cognitive impairment)
4. Active mental illness
5. Participated in a clinical trial in the past 6 months
Date of first enrolment01/08/2007
Date of final enrolment28/02/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Northern General Hospital
Academic unit of Primary Medical Care
Samuel Fox House
Herries Road
Sheffield
S5 7AU
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Sheffield Health and Social Research Consortium
Research organisation

Fulwood House
Old Fulwood Road
Sheffield
S10 3TH
United Kingdom

Website http://www.shsrc.nhs.uk/

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom
South Yorkshire Collaborative Local Research Network (SY CLRN)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2012
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 05/11/2012 Yes No
Results article results 07/06/2014 Yes No

Editorial Notes

29/01/2016: Internal review.