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Background We report on the development of the ‘STOP Diabetes’ education programme, a multi-component lifestyle behaviour change intervention for the prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Methods We combined qualitative stakeholder interviews with evidence reviews to develop the intervention, guided by the MRC Framework and informed by intervention mapping and two existing diabetes prevention programmes. We conducted two pilot cycles drawing on additional stakeholder interviews to inform and refine the intervention. Results The STOP Diabetes education programme employed a theoretical framework, using sound learning and behavioural principles and concrete kinaesthetic methods, to provide the grounding for innovative games and activities to promote health behaviour change in adults with ID. Qualitative data also suggested that two educators and one support person delivering a programme of one carer session followed by seven 2.5-h sessions over 7 weeks was acceptable to service users, carers and educators and appeared to benefit the participants. Conclusions The STOP Diabetes education programme was successfully developed and is suitable for a definitive randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimTo assess the value of the modified international classification system in screening high-risk patients with bilateral age-related maculopathy (ARM) from those with lower risk characteristics.MethodsIn total, 164 digital images of 106 patients with either bilateral ARM (group A) or the fellow eyes of unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (Group B) were included. Patients with no signs of ARM in both eyes or those with bilateral late AMD were excluded. The images were randomised and then graded by two masked ophthalmologists based on the modified International Classification of ARM.ResultsThe interobserver consistency between the two graders was high with a Kappa value of 0.82 (SE 0.34, P<0.0001). There were no significant differences in the distribution of the stages of ARM between the two subgroups. Stage 3 was the most common stage in each group for both graders followed by stage 2a in the bilateral drusen group. Stages 1a, 2a and 2b were equally the next common stage in the fellow eye of chordial neovascularisation group.ConclusionA screening system based on clinical characteristics would be of value in risk prediction in a clinical setting. Type of Drusen alone, as identified by the modified International grading system, may not be reliably predictive in screening for patients who are at high risk of developing choroidal neovascularisation.Eye (2006) 20, 199–202. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701852; Published online 4 March 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This project aims to: (1) describe the frequency of news coverage in mass media related to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) draft or final guidance; (2) analyse the types of evidence and sources of information that was quoted in the news; (3) compare whether the patterns of coverage differ between media. Design A survey of news articles related to decisions made by NICE's Health Technology Appraisal committees was conducted. Relevant news articles were retrieved from websites of major UK news media. Inclusion criteria were: (1) news articles related to specific NICE decision(s); (2) articles were written by a reporter/writer/editor of the news media. Articles that mentioned NICE for other reasons, columns and readers' letters were excluded. Setting Major UK news media, including national newspapers and news channels. Samples News articles published during 2007–2008 in 13 different sources of media including tabloids (Daily Express, Daily Mail, News of the World, The Mirror, The Sun), broadsheets (Independent, Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times) and news channels (BBC, ITN, Sky News and Reuters). Main outcome measure The following data were collected by one author and checked by another: nature of guidance (disease area; positive or negative recommendation), use of generic or brand name and source/type of evidence that was quoted. Descriptive statistics were compiled and comparisons between types/sources of news media were made using χ test. Results 329 articles were included. BBC, Daily Mail and The Telegraph published more than 50 articles related to health technology appraisal whereas ITN and News of the World published less than 10 articles during the 2-year period assessed. Two-thirds (220/329) of the articles were related to negative recommendations. There was significant difference in the proportion of articles relating to negative recommendations between individual sources of media (p=0.001) but not between types of media (p=0.286). Cancer (33%), neurology–mainly Alzheimer's disease (22%), ophthalmology (13%) and rheumatology (10%) were most frequently covered areas. 58% (192/329) of the articles quoted only brand names without mentioning generic names of the drugs. Approximately 50% of articles included statements of effectiveness without referring to the source of evidence and another 40% did not describe clinical effectiveness. 24% of articles did not mention drug costs or cost-effectiveness. Conclusion NICE decisions on new drugs, particularly negative recommendations, attracted significant media attention but the coverage and contents varied substantially between individual sources. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]