An implementation study will be conducted, targeting more than 10,000 families in two middle-income countries (Albania and Bulgaria) and two high-income countries (Greece and Spain). Schools will be used as an entry point to the community and, building on an existing procedure for children’s periodic growth assessment (conducted via school nurses or in collaboration with local community health centres), parents/caregivers will be screened via a non-invasive self-reported digital screening tool.
Those identified at high risk for T2D/HTN will be referred for glycaemia testing and blood pressure (BP) measurements at local community health centres. Parents/caregivers confirmed to have pre-diabetes or diabetes (and possibly high BP) will be invited to join an mHealth self-management intervention coordinated by the community healthcare workforce.

The goal of this intervention is not only to improve the health status of the users, but also to empower the entire family in adopting a healthy lifestyle. To this end, schools and communities will also be actively engaged to promote health literacy, well-being and support lifestyle changes creating a more supportive social and physical environment for the entire community. As a large part of the healthcare costs associated to T2D and HTN complications can be preventable, early screening will benefit and alleviate the load of saturated healthcare systems.

More information on the project can be found on www.digicare4you.eu