Background: In Ireland, diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness
among adults of a working age. The Irish Diabetic Retina Screening Programme
(DRS) offers free, regular eye screening to people with diabetes from age 12.
Screening is particularly important in young adults, because if it is caught early,
treatment is effective at reducing or preventing sight damage. However, a drop in the
uptake is observed for young adults aged 18-25 (72.5%) compared to those aged 12-
17 (90%). In response to this, the National Screening Service (NSS) have identified a
need to explore and support young adult attendance.
Aim: To co-design strategies to support DRS attendance in young adults aged 18-25
using an evidence-based stakeholder engagement approach.
Methods: The project will include three linked work packages (WPs), with a Public
and a Patient Involvement Panel and a Stakeholder Steering Committee informing all
project stages:
1) A rapid review of the literature to describe factors influencing participation in
DRS in young adults with diabetes.
2) A qualitative study involving interviews with young adults living with
diabetes in Ireland. Participants will be invited to share their experiences of living with
diabetes and their views on DRS.
3) Two co-design workshops with key stakeholders to develop strategies
aimed at improving participation in DRS for young adults. Participants will include
young adults living with diabetes, healthcare professionals, researchers and
members of the NSS. The co-development process will follow the Behaviour Change
Wheel approach (Michie et al, 2014) and will be informed by the findings of WPs 1
and 2.
Conclusion: This project will combine international evidence and behaviour change
theory with stakeholder expertise to develop evidence-based strategies tailored to the
needs of Irish young adults with diabetes. These strategies will be used by the NSS
to support DRS attendance in young adults.
