1. Background Risk perception of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in healthcare related majors at the University of Rhode Island Iman I. Aberra, University of Rhode Island PharmD Candidate Risk perception of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in healthcare related majors at the University of Rhode Island Iman I. Aberra, University of Rhode Island PharmD Candidate Objectives Methods Conclusions Population Discussion Results Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition that results when the body cannot properly use insulin, which is a hormone that facilitates uptake of glucose from the blood into cells to be used for energy. This results in high blood sugar that increases the risk of developing comorbidities such as heart disease, blindness, and peripheral neuropathy. Currently in the United States, 33.3% of people will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. The disease in America had a total cost of 245 billion in 2012, and continues to grow. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented if risk is identified early and a healthy lifestyle is adapted. 1 According to the National Center for Education Statistics, health professions and related programs was the third most popular bachelor’s degree and the most popular doctorate degree received in the 2010-11 academic year. Additionally, there was a 56% increase in students studying healthcare and related professions from the academic years 2005-6 to 2010-11 and the rate continues to grow. 2 The objective of this study is to explore how college enrolled healthcare majors perceive risk in developing type 2 diabetes and other illnesses and if there is a difference in perception between those who can afford nutritious foods and those who cannot. Figure 2. Current academic standing of survey population (n=184) Figure 3. Participants’ answers to the question, “Would you consider yourself financially capable of purchasing adequate amounts of non-processed foods such as fruits and vegetables?” Figure 1. Participation separated by program of study (n= 183) An email was sent to an academic advisor for the doctorate of pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, kinesiology, pre-professional health studies, nutrition, and health studies programs. The advisors then sent out an email with the survey link to their academic students. Survey Monkey Pro was used to format, record, and deliver the risk perception survey. The Risk Perception Survey in Developing Diabetes (RPS-DD) is a 43 item validated survey that measures personal control, worry, optimistic bias, personal disease risk, comparative environmental risk, and diabetes risk knowledge. 1 Eight additional questions were added to the beginning of the survey to gain demographical knowledge of the survey respondents. The additional questions asked subjects their age, gender, year in school, major, GPA, diabetes status, how often they hear or read about diabetes, and if they were financially capable of purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. Scoring was determined by using the scoring guide developed by the author. Table 1. Statistical analysis of the mean difference in risk perception between participants who indicated financial capability in purchasing adequate amounts of food and those who cannot. Figure 4. Graph of mean risk perception in each category of the RPS-DD with maximum and minimum risk value of 4 and 1, respectively. Results are divided by health focused majors who answered yes or no to the question, “Would you consider yourself financially capable of purchasing adequate amounts of non-processed foods such as fruits and vegetables?” Perceived risk of developing diabetes in health focused majors at the University of Rhode Island is relatively mild, and does not appear to be significantly different in the population unable to afford adequate amounts of nutritious foods. The results show that there is no significant difference in risk perception in healthcare related majors at the University of Rhode Island. Although a type II error is possible suggesting that these results may be a false negative and further studies will be needed. There may be a true difference in risk perception in large urban populations since the cost of living is usually higher in metropolitan areas, and people who are financially incapable of affording nutritious foods may feel more burden and be more likely to have higher perceived risk, especially if they are receiving an education in the field of healthcare. A true difference may not exist since often times students who have the privilege to attend a university will have full or minimal, but adequate, financial support. In the future, another study can measure the risk perception in a large urban setting community college since the cost of attending is lower than in a state or private university. Limitations of this study included that no baseline definition of the term “adequate” was defined in the question inquiring of participants’ financial situation in purchasing foods. This may be problematic since everyone follows a different diet. Figure 5. Percentage of correct answers in diabetes risk knowledge assessment in all participants and those who indicated yes or no in ability to afford adequate nutritious foods.