Establishing prevention, education and community awareness through a comprehensive diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia screening programme: The Smith Island, Maryland, USA experience

• Published in: International Journal of Nursing Practice
• Main Author: Davidson, Michele R
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2004
• Subjects: Smith Island
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-172x.2004.00481.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1440-172X.2004.00481.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1440-172X.2004.00481.x

Glucose screening is essential in providing early detection for diabetes. Screening for hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia in diabetics can help identify clients at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Free health screening clinics, which included components based on the ABCs of Diabetes, were set up on Smith Island, Maryland, USA in January 2001. An extensive health history was performed on each clinic attendee and baseline assessment data were collected. To date, 273 residents have been screened at the clinics. Clinic education adopted from the National Diabetes Education Program was provided to all attendees. This programme provided members of the community with a baseline assessment and general information on diabetes prevention, detection and treatment. Positive lifestyle strategies were introduced within the community. Barriers to future disease prevention were identified during the programme.