General population screening for paediatric type 1 diabetes-A qualitative study of UK professional stakeholders

Identifying children at risk of type 1 diabetes allows education for symptom recognition and monitoring to reduce the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at presentation. We aimed to explore stakeholder views towards paediatric general population screening for type 1 diabetes in the United Kingdom (UK).

Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 25 stakeholders, including diabetes specialists, policymakers and community stakeholders who could be involved in a future type 1 diabetes screening programme in the UK. A thematic framework analysis was performed using the National Screening Committee's evaluative criteria as the overarching framework.

Diabetic ketoacidosis prevention was felt to be a priority and proposed benefits of screening included education, monitoring and helping the family to better prepare for a future with type 1 diabetes. However, diabetes specialists were cautious about general population screening because of lack of evidence for public acceptability. Concerns were raised about the harms of living with risk, provoking health anxiety and threatening the child's right to an 'open future'. Support systems that met the clinical and psychological needs of the family living with risk were considered essential. Stakeholders were supportive of research into general population screening and acknowledged this would be a priority if an immunoprevention agent were licensed in the UK.

Although stakeholders suggested the harms of UK paediatric general population screening currently outweigh the benefits, this view would potentially be altered if prevention therapies were licensed. In this case, an evidence-based screening strategy would need to be formulated and public acceptability explored.