ABOUT one in every 100 patients tested under the Pharmacy Diabetes Screening Trial was found to have the condition, according to a draft report on the project currently being circulated among stakeholders.
The trial was conducted through 340 participating pharmacies, with Australian Doctor reporting the final document is expected to show that just under 140 cases of type 2 diabetes were identified among the 14,100 customers who were screened.
The 6th Community Pharmacy Agreement included $50 million for the Pharmacy Trial Program, with the diabetes screening project one of the first initiatives to be funded.
The trial was launched two years ago by former Health Minister Sussan Ley (PD 14 Nov 2016), and saw patients aged 35-74 years without diabetes of impaired blood sugar control tested using a variety of methodologies.
Some pharmacies used the Australian type 2 diabetes risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK) alone, while others offered AUSDRISK plus a HbA1c test, or AUSDRISK followed by a blood glucose test.
The AUSDRISK-only arm of the trial saw about 4,000 customers screened, and those who scored 12 or above were referred to their GP for follow-up, resulting in 33 confirmed diabetes diagnoses.
In cases where AUSDRISK was used alongside HbA1c testing there were 5,165 patients screened, of whom 72 were found to have type 2 diabetes after GP referral, while the blood glucose testing arm screened just under 5,000 patients, resulting in 31 confirmed cases.
Pharmacies were paid $10 for the AUSDRISK assessment plus $10.50 for the point of care tests and $11 if a GP referral was made.
Australian Doctor said the final outcome indicated that each type 2 diabetes cost an estimated $8,217 to identify, including set-up costs.
The finalised trial evaluation report is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 09 Nov 18
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