THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVIEW TO ASSESS PSYCHOSOCIAL-ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL ILLNESS IN ROUTINE CLINICAL-PRACTICE - THE PSYCHOSOCIAL-ASPECTS OF DIABETES SCHEDULE

In diabetes, as in other physical illnesses, psychosocial factors can be very important in good clinical management. Systematic clinical ass essment of important psychosocial factors has been difficult because a ssessment instruments used in research studies which have identified s uch factors cannot readily be adapted for everyday clinical use. This was the main purpose for developing the Psychosocial Aspects of Diabet es Schedule (PADS). This is a relatively brief structured standardized interview schedule, covering management of diabetes, barriers to glyc aemic control, social supports, family interactions, depression, anxie ty, self-esteem and coping. The PADS was acceptable to both patients a nd diabetes clinic staff, who were able to use it reliably with relati vely little training. The PADS showed good validity when compared with ratings made by an experienced nurse specialist, and with the Diabete s-Related Health Beliefs Scale. PADS ratings of adequacy of diabetes m anagement correlated well with glycaemic control, measured by glycated haemoglobin levels. Use of the interview will encourage physicians, d iabetes care nurses and dietitians to take a comprehensive view of the ir patients' illnesses. Although developed for diabetes, the interview can be applied with little modification to other physical illnesses.