Abstract
Introduction
Psychological factors, such as illness perceptions, self-efficacy and mental wellbeing, can influence uptake and completion of health programmes. Whether these psychological factors predict uptake and completion of diabetes prevention programmes is not currently known. This study explored whether these modifiable psychological factors predict uptake and/or completion of the Healthier You: National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme in England, independent of non-modifiable factors.
Methods
Data were collected by a local provider as part of their service evaluation, using convenience sampling whereby those who attended an initial assessment were asked to complete psychological measures. Binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify whether illness perceptions, self-efficacy and mental wellbeing predicted uptake and/or completion, independent of region, age, gender, ethnicity and deprivation.
Results
Three thousand seven hundred and fifty-six participants with prediabetes from England were included in the analyses. Illness perceptions (treatment control-odds ratio (OR) = 1.03; confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.06; p = .006 and illness concern- OR = 1.06; CI = 1.04–1.09; p = <.001), mental wellbeing (OR = 1.18; CI = 1.01–1.39; p = .042), age and deprivation were significant predictors of uptake. Self-efficacy (OR = .97; CI = .96–.99; p = <.001), age and region were significant predictors of completion.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the importance of modifiable psychological factors, particularly illness perceptions and mental wellbeing, in predicting uptake and self-efficacy predicting completion of a diabetes prevention programme. Early assessment of these psychological factors should be undertaken to identify individuals at risk of not starting or not completing diabetes prevention programmes so uptake and retention can be optimized.