Community-based Prevention of Diabetes (ComPoD) trial [version 1]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Community-based Prevention of Diabetes (ComPoD): A randomised trial with a waiting list control group to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a third sector led, community-based diabetes prevention programme (the “Living Well, Taking Control” programme).
IRAS ID
153572
Contact name
Jane R Smith
Contact email
Research summary
Diabetes is a serious, expensive and growing health problem. There is strong scientific evidence that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented through weight loss and changes in diet and physical activity. Experts therefore recommend intensive support to help people who are at high risk of developing diabetes make lifestyle changes. However, there are currently no properly evaluated ‘real-world’ diabetes prevention programmes in the UK.
This study aims to use robust methods to assess how well a community-based diabetes prevention programme works in reducing people’s risk of developing diabetes, and whether it is good value for money. The programme is already being provided by voluntary sector organisations in Devon and the West Midlands. Using funding from the National Institute for Health Research School for Public Health Research we will evaluate the programme by conducting a randomised controlled trial across these two sites.
GP practice staff will help us to identify and invite 312 adults at high risk of developing diabetes, because they are overweight and have recent tests showing high blood sugar, to take part. A researcher will visit participants to assess their weight, blood sugar and lifestyle and ask them to wear a small device to monitor their physical activity for a week. After this we will randomly divide participants into two groups. Half will attend the diabetes prevention programme immediately (intervention group) and half will be placed on a waiting list to attend the programme after 6 months (control group). After 6 months the researcher will visit participants again to take the same measures. We will then compare the groups to see what difference the diabetes prevention programme made to their diabetes risk. After 12 months the researcher will visit those who attended the programme from the start again to see if any changes made have been maintained.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/1113
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion