Background
In the past few years, numerous prediction models for type 2 diabetes have been developed. So far, little research has been done to examine how best to implement these scores in clinical practice.
Objective
The purpose of this work is to present areas where diabetes risk scores can be used, to identify barriers for their application, and to discuss ways of increasing acceptance of scores by physicians and patients. Finally, score-based prognoses and intuitive prognoses by physicians are compared.
Results
Web-based versions of diabetes risk scores like FINDRISK and the German Diabetes Risk Score have been developed. Moreover, risk scores are suitable for workplace health promotion and for primary care. So far, diabetes prediction models have rarely been used by patients and physicians. For use of diabetes risk scores as a self-test, it is crucial to point out that the test is not time consuming and can be easily used, and that there are promising interventions and treatment options for those at high risk. To increase acceptance by physicians, prediction models should be integrated into practice software, they should be based on parameters available in clinical practice, and results should be combined with lifestyle recommendations. So far, score-based prognoses and intuitive prognoses of diabetes by physicians have not yet been compared for the case of diabetes, but for other endpoints it has been shown that risk estimates by physicians differ strongly and hardly agree with score-based prognoses.
Conclusion
By better addressing patients’ perceived barriers to fill in diabetes risk tests, by integrating scores into practice software and using readily accessible parameters, it should be possible to establish diabetes risk scores into practice as a complement to risk assessments by physicians.