Inclusion of Educational Messages in Laboratory Reports Aids to Complete the Diagnostic Workup of Hyperglycemia

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate whether educational messages regarding oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) indications in laboratory reports increase the number of OGTTs appropriately requested. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The following message was printed on the lab reports of individuals with a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l: “A FPG between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l is considered abnormal by the American Diabetes Association (impaired fasting glucose). An OGTT is recommended if the patient does not have a diagnosis of diabetes and suffers from conditions associated with an increased risk for having type 2 diabetes (i.e., overweight, high blood pressure, abnormal plasma lipids or family history of diabetes).” The number of educational messages printed was 81,099. RESULTS—The intervention resulted in a significant increase in the number of OGTTs requested, from 78 ± 19 to 268 ± 48 tests per month. It also resulted in a greater proportion of case subjects that had an abnormal OGTT result. CONCLUSIONS—Educational messages in laboratory reports aid in the diagnostic workup of hyperglycemia.