RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Motivational interviewing for modifying diabetes risk: a randomised controlled trial JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 535 OP 540 DO 10.3399/bjgp08X319648 VO 58 IS 553 A1 Colin J Greaves A1 Andrew Middlebrooke A1 Lucy O'Loughlin A1 Sandra Holland A1 Jane Piper A1 Anna Steele A1 Tracy Gale A1 Fenella Hammerton A1 Mark Daly YR 2008 UL http://bjgp.org/content/58/553/535.abstract AB Background Around 10–15% of adults aged over 40 years have pre-diabetes, which carries a high risk of progression to type 2 diabetes. Intensive lifestyle intervention reduces progression by as much as 58%. However, the cost and personnel requirements of these interventions are major obstacles to delivery in NHS primary care.Aim To assess the effectiveness of a low-cost intervention, delivered in primary care by non-NHS staff, to reduce the risk of diabetes through weight loss and physical activity.Design of study Pragmatic single-blind randomised controlled trial with researchers and statistician blinded to group allocation.Setting UK primary care.Method One-hundred and forty-one participants with a body mass index of 28 kg/m2 or more, but without diabetes or heart disease, received either information leaflets or individual behavioural counselling using motivational interviewing techniques. The intervention was delivered by five counsellors recruited from the local community. The primary outcomes were the proportions of participants meeting predefined targets for weight loss (5%) and moderate physical activity (150 minutes/week) after 6 months.Results Using intention-to-treat analysis, more people in the intervention group achieved the weight-loss target (24% versus 7% for controls; odds ratio [OR] = 3.96; 95% confidence interval [Cl] = 1.4 to 11.4; number needed to treat [NNT] = 6.1 (95% Cl = 4 to 21). The proportion achieving the physical activity target did not increase significantly (38% versus 28% for controls; OR = 1.6; 95% Cl = 0.7 to 3.8).Conclusion Short-term weight loss, at a level which, if sustained, is clinically meaningful for reducing diabetes risk, is achievable in primary care, without excessive use of NHS monetary or personnel resources.