Development and initial evaluation of a complex intervention to increase participation in follow up screening and early detection of type 2 diabetes among women with a previous pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes. Ph.d.-project

Internationally and nationally, annually screening is recommended for women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), due to their increased risk of developing an actual diabetes condition. Studies show that women's participation in screening after birth is low. This constitutes an important health issue, as early detection of diabetes can result in fewer late complications caused by diabetes and less mortality. Other studies have shown a quality gap in the care of these women and suggest that women would benefit from receiving an annually reminder of screening. International studies indicate that reminders can be effective and increase participation in screening but more knowledge from a Danish setting is needed. In a Danish setting and others, the care of women with previous GDM contains many factors, including the transition between sectors, women's own resources as well as the organization and prioritization of screening in general practice, and contributes to complex interaction. An intervention taking contextual factors into consideration may benefit women and their families by increasing the number of healthy life years.
The aim of the study is to increase the women’s participation in screening and ensure early detection of diabetes and the possibility of preventing complications.
This thesis is designed as an intervention study based on the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) guidelines on Developing and Evaluation of Complex Interventions. The study will focus on the first steps of the development and test of a theoretically sound and well-documented intervention.
Vejledere: Charlotte Overgaard og Erik Elgaard Sørensen.