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Melbourne Diabetes Prevention Study (MDPS); A Randomised Control Trial of its Efficacy, Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness
The dramatic increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a major health problem worldwide. Diabetes is the second highest contributor to the Australian burden of disease and presents an enormous economic responsibility; hence the urgent need to implement a widespread and coordinated approach to its prevention. The Life! Taking Action on Diabetes program in Victoria provides a unique opportunity to evaluate a structured primary care-based diabetes prevention program. The MDPS will study high risk populations in southern and eastern metropolitan areas of Melbourne over the next three years using a randomised cluster control study.The MDPS aims to:
- Evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of the Life! Taking Action on Diabetes program by monitoring clinical and behavioural outcomes before and after the intervention (particularly reduction in diabetes risk, weight and central obesity and changes in quality of life) and by comparing participants in the Life! program with another cohort receiving usual care at the same time.
- Undertake an economic assessment of the Life! program by (a) evaluating whether it is 'value-for-money' through Cost Utility Analysis (CUA) and economic modelling of longer term impacts; and (b) evaluating technical efficiency issues through Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), combining resource usage data and clinical/behavioural outcomes.
- Assess a broad range of factors to supplement the technical analysis.
- Evaluate 'usual care' in the management of individuals at high risk of progression to type 2 diabetes.
Progress
Recruitment of participants for a pilot study began from a number of general practices in the Knox Division of General Practice in September 2009 with assistance from Greater Eastern Primary Health. Further recruitment occurred via community organisations and events, including places of worship, health clubs, adult learning centres and local community fetes.
The pilot study was completed in June 2011 and its results will soon be published. These results will inform the development of a subsequent study which is now recruiting people aged between 50 and 75 in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Project Coordinator, Liz Stewart is liaising with existing Life! providers in the MDPS catchment area and is assisted by a team of health economists at Deakin University Burwood Campus and a research support team in Warrnambool. The Project and Evaluation Team meets monthly to monitor the study’s progress and the Board meets quarterly to oversee the entire study.
Grant details
Funding Body: National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Project Grant, Application 533819.
Chief Investigators: Professor James Dunbar (GGT UDRH, Flinders University & Deakin University), Professor Rob Carter (Deakin University), Professor Edward Janus (Western Health), Professor Catherine Bennett (Deakin University) Dr Sharleen O'Reilly (Deakin University) & Professor Erkki Vartiainen (National Public Health Institute, Finland).
Associate Investigators: Professor James Best (University of Melbourne), Adjunct Professor Greg Johnson (Diabetes Australia - Victoria), Professor Brian Oldenburg (Monash University, Dr Amy Timoshanko (Diabetes Australia - Victoria), Professor Timothy Skinner (University of Tasmania) & Associate Professor Theo Vos (University of Queensland).
Total Funding: $194,250 (GGT UDRH portion of total funding)