A message from Dr Jo at the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes:

Dear Health Consumers Tasmania,

My name is Jo and I work at the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes. We are conducting a national study which focuses on people living with type 2 diabetes in rural communities and asking them how access to diabetes research and services should be improved. As I am sure you are well aware, people living in rural communities have a higher rate of diabetes but less access to healthcare services compared to those people who live in cities. This study is also in part, an advocacy piece, as we are trying to amplify the voices of people living in the country.

We have been conducting the study for the past 4 months and have been finding it hard to reach people living in Tasmanian rural communities who have type 2 diabetes. So far we have only had one participant from a Tasmanian rural community and I am really keen to increase representation from Tasmania!

In summary:

• Our study focuses on advocating for people living with type 2 diabetes in rural communities to increase access for diabetes research and services.
• Taking part involves a one-off 30 minute telephone or video interview with myself discussing experiences of living with type 2 diabetes in rural communities and thoughts about how to increase access to diabetes research and services. The interview can be scheduled at a time and day that works for the participant.
• To acknowledge contribution to the study, all participants receive a $40 gift voucher.
• Key outcomes from this work include identification of barriers and enablers to take part in diabetes research, outline preferences relating to communication and engagement around research activities, identify practical strategies to engage Tasmanian rural/country communities in research and highlight the challenges faced by people living with type 2 diabetes in rural/country communities in accessing healthcare services.

Link to survey: https://tinyurl.com/rural-Aus