Feedback of personal retinal images appears to have a motivational impact in people with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA(1c): findings of a pilot study
G Rees, EL Lamoureux, TE Nicolaou, LAB Hodgson, J Weinman, J Speight
AIM: To conduct a pilot study to explore the potential impact of visual feedback of personal retinal images on diabetes outcomes. METHODS: Twenty-five participants with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and suboptimal HbA(1c) (> 53 mmol/mol; > 7%) were randomized to receive visual feedback of their own retinal images or to a control group. At baseline and 3-month follow-up, HbA(1c), standard measures of beliefs, diabetes-related distress and self-care activities were assessed. RESULTS: In unadjusted models, relative to controls, the intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in HbA(1c) at 3-month follow-up (-0.6% vs. +0.3%, P < 0.01), as well as enhanced motivation to i..