Abstract
BackgroundPenetration and participation of real life implementation of lifestyle change programs to prevent type 2 diabetes has been challenging. This is particularly so among low income individuals in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of financial incentives on attendance and weight loss among Medicaid beneficiaries participating in the 12-month Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).MethodsThis is a cluster-randomized controlled trial with two financial incentive study arms and an attention control study arm. Medicaid beneficiaries with prediabetes from 13 primary care clinics were randomly assigned to individually earned incentives (IND; 33 groups; n = 309), a hybrid of individual- and group-earned incentives (GRP; 30 groups; n = 259), and an attention control (AC; 30 groups; n = 279). Up to $520 in incentives could be earned for attaining attendance and weight loss goals over 12 months. Outcomes are percent weight loss from baseline, achieving 5% weight loss from baseline, and attending 75% of core and 75% of maintenance DPP sessions. Linear mixed models were used to examine weight change and attendance rates over the 16 weeks and 12 months.ResultsThe percent weight change at 16 weeks for the IND, GRP, and AC participants were similar, at − 2.6, − 3.1%, and − 3.4%, respectively. However, participants achieving 5% weight loss in the IND, GRP, and AC groups was 21.5, 24.0% (GRP vs AC, P < 0.05), and 15.2%. Attendance at 75% of the DPP core sessions was significantly higher among IND (60.8%, P < 0.001) and GRP (64.0%, P < 0.001) participants than among AC (38.6%) participants. Despite substantial attrition over time, attendance at 75% of the DPP maintenance sessions was also significantly higher among IND (23.0%, P < 0.001) and GRP (26.1%, P < 0.001) participants than among AC (11.0%) participants.ConclusionsFinancial incentives can improve the proportion of Medicaid beneficiaries attending the 12-month DPP and achieving at least 5% weight loss.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT02422420; retrospectively registered April 21, 2015.
Highlights
Penetration and participation of real life implementation of lifestyle change programs to prevent type 2 diabetes has been challenging
A metaanalysis of community-based DPP interventions and evaluation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) found that program attendance and weight loss goals were much lower among black, Hispanic, and other racial/ethnic individuals compared to non-Hispanic whites [9, 10]
Low income individuals are increasingly insured through the public programs of Medicaid and Medicare, which account for 66% of the estimated $237 billion in annual direct medical costs attributable to diabetes in the United States [13, 14]
Summary
Penetration and participation of real life implementation of lifestyle change programs to prevent type 2 diabetes has been challenging This is so among low income individuals in the United States. A metaanalysis of community-based DPP interventions and evaluation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) found that program attendance and weight loss goals were much lower among black, Hispanic, and other racial/ethnic individuals compared to non-Hispanic whites [9, 10]. Low income individuals are increasingly insured through the public programs of Medicaid and Medicare, which account for 66% of the estimated $237 billion in annual direct medical costs attributable to diabetes in the United States [13, 14]
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