Peer Comparison-based Risk Communication (PRICOM): a Study Protocol to Evaluate the Feasibility of Delivering a Risk Communication Intervention in the Primary Care Setting for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Younger adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Singapore tend to have poorer glycaemic control and medication adherence, factors correlating with high risk of diabetes complications. Late-stage diabetes and its complications are perceived to be slow-progressing and not immediately life-threatening. These reflect a concerning state of diabetes control and risk perception in Singapore. Using the Health Belief Model, a risk communication intervention, Peer comparison-based Risk Communication (PRICOM), was developed for physicians to counsel patients with T2DM supported by a digital tool. PRICOM aims to promote health actions by increasing their risk perceptions of diabetes complications.

Specific aims: The primary aim is to evaluate the feasibility of delivering PRICOM in the primary care setting for adults with poor T2DM control - in terms of recruitment, retention, PRICOM adherence, estimated effect size of score changes in risk perception, health actions and HbA1c change. Secondary aims are to assess validity of the risk perception scale, and to explore patients' perspectives of PRICOM.

Methodology: A multi-site randomised controlled trial will be conducted at a primary care clinic in 2 concurrent phases. In phase 1, content validation and test-retest reliability of a risk perception scale will be carried out. In phase 2, a two-arm randomised controlled trial will be conducted using mixed-methods to evaluate the feasibility of delivering PRICOM. A total 40 patient participants will be recruited by convenience sampling. Eligible patients must be age 40-79 years and have poor T2DM control with at least one HbA1c reading ≥ 8.0% within the last 6 months.

Relevance/significance of the study: Findings from the study will inform further revisions to PRICOM and provide an estimated effect size to estimate the required sample size for a multi-site trial.