AB145. Development and application of a risk assessment system in determining individuals’ susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus: a quantitative study in a selected community in Angeles City, Philippines

Background: The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) continues to rise globally, with many individuals remaining undiagnosed until complications develop. Standard diagnostic methods such as glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose, and oral glucose tolerance tests are effective but often inaccessible and costly in community settings, leading to delayed detection and treatment. This study aimed to develop and apply a risk assessment system to identify individuals at risk of developing T2DM in a selected community in Angeles City, providing a cost-effective screening tool to support early prevention and nursing-led health initiatives.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was conducted in two phases following approval from the Ethics Review Committee (ERC). Phase 1 involved system development and evaluation by community health nurses using a 16-item questionnaire assessing usability, information quality, and interface design. Phase 2 involved applying the system to 372 community residents using another 16-item questionnaire to generate individual risk profiles. Data were analyzed using percentage, frequency, mean, and standard deviation.

Results: The risk assessment system achieved “best imaginable” ratings in usability, information quality, and interface design, demonstrating its appropriateness for community use. Risk stratification revealed that 42.74% of respondents were at low risk, 37.37% at slightly elevated risk, 10.48% at moderate risk, 8.60% at high risk, and 0.81% at very high risk for developing T2DM. Respondents displayed high levels of perceived self-efficacy, perceived severity, and behavioral beliefs, while perceived susceptibility scored lowest, indicating a gap in awareness about personal risk.

Conclusions: The developed system offers a non-invasive, low-cost tool for identifying T2DM susceptibility and empowering early preventive action. Integrating such tools into nursing practice can enhance community screening programs, guide tailored health education, and strengthen primary health care. Raising awareness of personal susceptibility is vital to fostering proactive health behaviors, reducing disease burden, and advancing community-based nursing interventions.

Keywords: Community health nurses; health behavior; risk assessment; type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)