A SURVEY OF THE UTILIZATION OF DIABETES RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL (AUSDRISK) IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT: A PILOT STUDY IN AUSTRALIA.

Abstract

     Non-invasive diabetes risk assessment tools are available in many countries. The Australian diabetes risk assessment tool (AUSDRISK) is one such tool developed in Australia.
    This study aimed to assess pharmacists’ awareness and perception of AUSDRISK and their attitudes towards using this tool for risk assessment service in a community pharmacy.
   A self-administered survey targeted 2000 pharmacist members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia in Victoria and Queensland from October 2011 to January 2012. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to analyse participants’ responses. The total responses numbered 114, representing a 5.7% overall response rate. Only 9.8% of the respondents who were aware of AUSDRISK had a correct understanding about AUSDRISK. Over 50% of all respondents agreed that AUSDRISK is easy to understand, can be used as a primary screening tool and should be applied in community pharmacies for a type 2 diabetes risk assessment program. The shortage of pharmacists’ times (85%), lack of awareness of the risk assessment program (80.5%) and no extra remuneration (76.8%) were identified as the major barriers for diabetes risk assessment implementation. In addition, a sum between AUD10 and AUD50 was suggested as the required remuneration rate for a community pharmacy to provide this service. In conclusion, Australian pharmacists agreed that AUSDRISK can be used for diabetes risk assessment in a community pharmacy. This finding would provide preliminary evidence to initiate risk assessment for diabetes management at the community pharmacy.