Mobile Diabetes Screening Initiative (MDSi), University of Alberta www.braiddm.ca

1. The
Moccasin
Results From the MDSi
Telephone Survey
Our Survey Says:
In July and August of 2006, 2007 and 2008, we
conducted a telephone survey of MDSi clients to find out
how well clients remembered their MDSi results, and what
clients did after getting screened by MDSi. Did clients go
and see their doctor after seeing MDSi? Did they start
getting more exercise? The survey also asked clients how
they felt about getting screened for diabetes.
175 MDSi clients completed our survey. We divided
them into three groups, according to their MDSi diabetes
screening results:
23%
25%
Mobile Screening Programs
Are Well Received in Rural
Communities
Our survey results show screening programs
may be making a difference. The MDSi team is trying
to help a challenged health system by providing
timely and professional assessments and counseling
regarding diabetes and cardiac risk.
We will be repeating the MDSi telephone
survey in 2009-2010, in order to continue our followup with our clients.
Summary of Survey Answers:
Group 1: MDSi screening showed they
"probably have diabetes" (N = 41)
Group
1
Group 2: MDSi screening showed they
have "pre-diabetes" (N = 44)
51%
Volume 4, No. 1, Fall 2009
More than half of the clients we surveyed correctly
remembered what MDSi said about their diabetes results.
But, for the clients MDSi told they “probably had diabetes”,
only 24% correctly remembered this. This shows there is
some “denial” for those clients who may have diabetes and
need to get follow-up medical care. Only half of the clients
surveyed said they saw a doctor after getting screened by
MDSi. However, for most of these people, the doctor
confirmed their MDSi “diagnosis”. This shows that MDSi is
finding people who need follow-up care for diabetes or prediabetes, but that some clients are not taking MDSi’s advice
to get medical attention.
Many clients are taking MDSi’s advice to live
healthier lifestyles, however. Most clients said they felt the
need to change their lifestyle to improve their health. The
majority of clients said they have done something (better
diet, more physical activity, less stress, etc.) to improve their
lifestyle since seeing MDSi.
Almost all clients said MDSi screening was a good
idea, and would recommend it others. Most clients said they
knew more about diabetes after seeing MDSi. This shows
that MDSi has helped to raise awareness of diabetes for
individuals, and within the Communities.
What did clients do after getting screened by MDSi?
Saw a doctor
66%
59%
Saw a doctor about their MDSi
39%
54%
results
The doctor confirmed their MDSi
56%
86%
diabetes screening results
Saw a dietitian
17%
7%
Improved their eating habits
76%
64%
Increased their physical activity
50%
59%
Decreased their stress levels
44%
29%
All
37%
51%
39%
48%
77%
72%
4%
72%
58%
33%
8%
72%
57%
36%
How do clients feel about getting screened for diabetes?
It’s a good idea
98%
95%
97%
Would recommend it to friends
93%
91%
96%
and family
Feel they know more about
78%
68%
63%
diabetes after getting screened
96%
95%
70%
Test Results of Clients
Surveyed:
Group
1
Group
2
Group
3
All
Normal Weight Results (BMI)
Normal Cholesterol Results
Normal Blood Pressure Results
5%
40%
51%
16%
30%
81%
16%
58%
84%
14%
49%
75%
Visit MDSi online @
pg.1
Group
3
How well did clients remember what MDSi told them about their
diabetes screening results?
Correctly remembered
24%
55%
82%
61%
Incorrectly remembered
76%
45%
25%
39%
Group 3: Their MDSi screening results
were "normal" (N = 90)
Mobile Diabetes Screening Initiative
4100 - 8308 114 St., Edmonton, AB T6G 2V2
Ph: (780) 407-1627, Fax: (780) 407-1715
E-mail: mdsi@ualberta.ca
Group
2
Oster et al., 2009
Visit MDSi on

2. MDSi Moccasin
The
Th
Welc
Cultural Pride & Self-discipline:
Tools for escaping
poverty and violence
Hobbema Cadets Learn What Life is
Like in Jamaica’s Ghettos
On April 9th, 22 members of the Hobbema
Community Cadet Corps program traveled to Jamaica to
spend 10 days in the community of Spanish Town, and
saw some of Jamaica’s poorest neighbourhoods.
The Hobbema Cadets (boys and girls, ages 12 to
17) were welcomed by the Jamaica Police Cadets, who
showed them neighbourhoods ravaged by gang warfare,
drugs and poverty. They saw garbage piled in the streets,
bullet holes in the building walls, and portraits of murdered
gang members hung on building walls.
But cultural pride has helped the Jamaican Cadets
to escape the poverty, drugs and violence that surround
them everyday. The Jamaican Cadets greeted their
visitors with performances of traditional songs and dance.
The Hobbema Cadets in turn performed traditional dancing
th
at the Jamaican Cadet’s 9 Anniversary celebration.
RCMP Sgt. Mark Linnell leads the Hobbema
Cadets. He took the kids to Jamaica to show them that
what happens in Hobbema also happens other places in
the world. The trip was meant to inspire the kids. Sgt.
Linnell will be visiting other communities in Alberta to help
them set up their own cadet program.
In August 2009, 32 of the Jamaica police Cadets
came to Hobbema for an 11-day visit.
See pictures of the trip on the Hobbema Cadets’ web site:
www.hobbemacadets.net/apps/photos/album?albumid=5352758
MDSi’s “NEW”
Certified Diabetes
Educator (CDE)
Congratulations Jane!
You probably recognize Jane…
Jane has worked for MDSi for the
past two years as a Registered
Dietitian, counseling MDSi clients in
the Communities.
Jane recently passed the “Certified
Diabetes Educator” exam through
the Canadian Diabetes Association.
This success is great professional
development for Jane, and a great
asset for the MDSi team.
Way to go, Jane!
HERE COME THE VANS!
Watch for MDSi in Your Community
The MDSi Team (Virinder, Jane, Darren and Mindy)
are back on the road, bringing diabetes screening services
to your area. Have you gone to see MDSi yet?
MDSi provides diabetes screening in a “one-stop
appointment”. Your test results are ready in 10 minutes, so
you get them during your appointment. You receive
personal counseling based on your test results. (MDSi also
does eye photos for people who
already have diabetes.)
Please contact your
Settlement or Community
Office to book your
appointment with MDSi.
A CBC reported travelled to Jamaica with the group. You
can watch the CBC “Pride Beyond Poverty” documentary
online at: www.cbc.ca/sunday/2009/05/051009_4.html
Hobbema Cadets Captain
Trent Young is presented
with Jamaican Police Cadet
Epaulettes, in recognition of
Captain Young's leadership.
Photos and graphics courtesy of the
Hobbema Community Cadet Corps.
pg.2
JANE JENSEN
Registered Dietitian,
Certified Diabetes
Educator
Members of MDSi on the
ferry crossing Peace River
MDSI Visit Schedule
Fall 2009:
Sep 8th-11th: Conklin
Sep 21st-24th: Buffalo Lake
Sep 29th-Oct 1st: Ft. Vermilion
Oct 1st-6th: La Crete
Oct 7th-8th: Paddle Prairie
Oct 26th-29th: Grande Cache
Nov 2nd-5th: Fishing Lake
Nov 16th-19th: Elizabeth
Nov 23rd-26th: Kikino
Nov 30th-Dec 3rd: Hinton
Dec 7th-10th: Bent Arrow