Although the samples differed demographically, the reliability and validity of the test were supported in both the community and the health department samples. This suggests that the test is appropriate for a variety of settings and patient populations.

To determine the reliability and the validity of the Diabetes Care Profile (DCP), an instrument that assesses the social and psychological factors related to diabetes and its treatment, two studies with separate populations and methodologies were conducted. In the first study, the DCP was administered to, and physiologic measures collected from, individuals with diabetes being cared for in a community setting (n = 440). In the second study, the DCP and several previously validated scales were administered to individuals with diabetes receiving care at a university medical center (n = 352). Cronbach's alphas of individual DCP scales ranged from .60 to .95 (Study 1) and from .66 to .94 (Study 2). Glycohemoglobin levels correlated with three DCP scales (Study 1). Several DCP scales discriminated among patients with different levels of disease severity. The results of the studies indicate that the DCP is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the psychosocial factors related to diabetes and its treatment.

Electrocardiograms on 122,043 apparently healthy male subjects aged 16 years to over 50 years have been studied. Of this group 5,773 subjects (4.72 per cent) had electrocardiographic abnormalities. The more common abnormalities were expressed in terms of rate per thousand subjects for each 5-year age group. This provides a means of relating incidence to age. Each abnormality and its clinical significance is discussed. In 54,668 subjects incidental findings such as notched P waves, amplitude, and wave forms were tabulated.

This study suggests that for examining relationships within diabetes, e.g., the impact of acute complications and/or regimen on quality of life, the DCP is the appropriate measure. Conversely, when examining relationships between the patient's experience of living with diabetes and quality of life and other chronic diseases, the SF-36 would be an appropriate measure. Both instruments can be used to illuminate the experience and behavior of patients living with and caring for NIDDM.

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