Self-management Support Program Research Articles

Outcomes of New York City Care Calls: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Effectiveness Trial of Telephone-Delivered Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Support.

The purpose of the 12-month randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Telephonic Self-Management Support (T-SMS) program among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Eight hundred twelve adults with T2D participated in NYC Care Calls (mean age = 59.2, SD = 10.8; female = 57%; mean A1C = 9.3, SD = 1.8; Latino = 86%) and were randomly assigned to T-SMS or enhanced usual care (EUC). A1C (primary outcome), blood pressure, and body mass index (secondary outcomes) were extracted from electronic medical records. Secondary patient-reported outcomes, including depressive symptoms, diabetes distress, medication adherence, and self-management activities, were assessed by telephone in English or Spanish. For T-SMS, the number of assigned phone calls was based on baseline A1C, depressive symptoms, and/or diabetes distress. Analyses were conducted under the intention-to-treat principle. A1C decreased over 12 months in both T-SMS (0.72% percentage points; 95% CI, 0.53-0.91) and EUC (0.66% percentage points; 95% CI, 0.46-0.85; Ps < .001). Diabetes distress and self-management also improved over time in both arms (Ps < .05). Compared to EUC, participants in the T-SMS arm did not differ in outcomes. The T-SMS and EUC groups were found not to have an appreciable outcome difference. It is unclear whether improvements in A1C across both conditions represent a secular trend or indicate that print-based educational intervention may have a positive impact on self-management and well-being.

Role of social support in culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education among an ethnic minority population in Denmark.

CUSTOM is a culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support programme tailored to Urdu, Turkish and Arabic-speaking people in Denmark. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to examine the functional social support perceived by CUSTOM participants before and after the intervention; and, second, to explore how participants' structural social support affected the physical and mental health benefits of the intervention. The participants were people with type 2 diabetes whose primary language was Urdu, Arabic or Turkish (n = 73). Outcomes included A1C, body fat percentage, diabetes distress, well-being and functional social support. Changes were observed between baseline and six months after participation in a single-group pre-test/post-test design. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to assess pre-post differences in functional social support. The role of structural social support was assessed using moderation regression analysis. Participants reported higher availability of functional social support after the programme (p < 0.05), although the change in loneliness was not significant. In addition, cohabitating with adult children increased the average body fat percentage reduction achieved following the programme, while living with a partner lowered the average body fat percentage reduction achieved. The intervention was particularly successful in improving diabetes distress among those with weak structural social support. Culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support can improve social support among people with an ethnic minority background. The structure of social relations may influence the benefit of culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support. Future programmes should include family members and other social relations more actively, drawing attention to both positive and negative aspects of social relations.

Self-Management Support Improves Diabetes Outcomes Without Exacerbating Inequities.

Previous research has found an association between low health literacy and poor clinical outcomes in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. We sought to determine if this association can be mitigated by a self-management support (SMS) program provided by trained health workers using a technology assisted menu driven program, called Connection to Health (CTH). This study is a secondary analysis from a randomized trial of 2 similar versions of CTH implemented in 12 Northern California community health centers. As part of this, each participant completed a single validated question to assess health literacy. We used unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses to determine the extent to which baseline health literacy was predictive of prepost changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Of 365 participants for whom prepost HbA1c data were available, HbA1c concentrations declined by an average of 0.76% (from 9.9% to 9.2%, 95% CI (0.53%-1.0%). Almost 114 (31.2%) of the participants had low health literacy, but there was no significant association between health literacy and the reduction in HbA1c concentrations in either the unadjusted or adjusted models, nor did baseline health literacy predict prepost changes in body mass index, medication adherence, exercise, or diet. The study found that implementing the CTH program in 2 versions via a randomized clinical trial improved HbA1c concentrations without increasing disparities between participants with high and low health literacy. This suggests CTH-like programs can enhance diabetes outcomes in community health centers without exacerbating inequities for those with low health literacy.

Narrative synthesis of the effectiveness and characteristics of heart failure disease self-management support programmes.

A deeper understanding of the key elements that should be included in heart failure (HF) disease self-management support (DSMS) programmes is crucial to enhance programme effectiveness and applicability to diverse settings. We investigated the characteristics and effectiveness of DSMS programmes designed to improve survival and decrease acute care readmissions for people with HF and determine the generalizability and applicability of the evidence to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A narrative meta-synthesis approach was used, and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of DSMS programmes were included. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, and Embase were searched without language restriction and guided by the adapted Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Eight high-quality systematic reviews were identified representing 250 studies, of which 138 were unique RCTs measuring the outcomes of interest. The findings revealed statistically significant reductions in HF readmissions [relative risk (RR) range 0.64-0.85, P<0.5, five out of six reviews], all-cause readmissions (RR range 0.85-0.95, P<0.5, five out of six reviews), and all-cause mortality (RR range 0.67-0.87, P<0.5, five out of five reviews). Overall, 44.2% (n=61) of RCTs reduced acute care readmission and improved survival. Studies were categorized according to intensity (low, moderate, moderate+, and high) based on the opportunity for immediate treatment of HF instability; 29.2% (14/48) of low-intensity, 63.6% (21/33) of moderate-intensity, 40% (6/15) of moderate+-intensity, and 47.6% (20/42) of high-intensity interventions were effective. Most effective programmes used moderate-intensity (39.4%, 48%, or 50%, respectively) or high-intensity (33.3%, 36%, and 43.7%, respectively) interventions. The majority of studies (90.6%) were conducted in high-income countries. Programmes that provided opportunities for early recognition and response to HF instability were more likely to reduce acute care readmission and enhance survival. Generalizability and applicability to LMICs are clearly limited. Tailoring HF DSMS programmes to accommodate cultural, resource, and environmental challenges requires careful consideration of intervention intensity, duration of follow-up, and feasibility in low-resource settings.

Characteristics of self-management education and support programmes for people with chronic diseases delivered by primary care teams: a rapid review

BackgroundPrimary care actors can play a major role in developing and promoting access to Self-Management Education and Support (SMES) programmes for people with chronic disease. We reviewed studies on SMES programmes in primary care by focusing on the following dimensions: models of SMES programmes in primary care, SMES team’s composition, and participants’ characteristics.MethodsFor this mixed-methods rapid review, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases to identify articles in English and French that assessed a SMES programme in primary care for four main chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and/or respiratory chronic disease) and published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021. We excluded articles on non-original research and reviews. We evaluated the quality of the selected studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We reported the study results following the PRISMA guidelines.ResultsWe included 68 studies in the analysis. In 46/68 studies, a SMES model was described by focusing mainly on the organisational dimension (n = 24). The Chronic Care Model was the most used organisational model (n = 9). Only three studies described a multi-dimension model. In general, the SMES team was composed of two healthcare providers (mainly nurses), and partnerships with community actors were rarely reported. Participants were mainly patients with only one chronic disease. Only 20% of the described programmes took into account multimorbidity. Our rapid review focused on two databases and did not identify the SMES programme outcomes.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the limited implication of community actors and the infrequent inclusion of multimorbidity in the SMES programmes, despite the recommendations to develop a more interdisciplinary approach in SMES programmes. This rapid review identified areas of improvement for SMES programme development in primary care, especially the privileged place of nurses in their promotion.Trial registrationPROSPERO 2021 CRD42021268290.

Long-Term Results of a Digital Diabetes Self-Management and Education Support Program Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term impact of a digital diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program on A1C among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Data analyzed were from a retrospective cohort of commercially insured members with T2DM enrolled in the Omada for Diabetes program between January 1, 2019, and January 31, 2022 (n = 1,322). Linear mixed models measured changes in A1C and weight across 12 months (collected at baseline and every 3 months over 1 year) overall and stratified by A1C at baseline (≥8% vs <8%). On average, members were 53.5 years old, 56.9% female, and 71.5% White, with a mean baseline body mass index (BMI) of 36.9 and A1C of 7.6%. Members with baseline A1C ≥8% demonstrated clinically and statistically significant adjusted mean reductions in A1C during follow-up, from 9.48% at baseline to 7.33%, 7.57%, 7.59%, and 7.47% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. Those with A1C <8% maintained glycemic stability (6.73%, 6.50%, 6.54%, 6.62%, and 6.51%, respectively). Collectively, members experienced a -1.17 kg/m2 mean reduction in BMI over 12 months. This study provides real-world evidence that members with elevated baseline A1C (≥8%) enrolled in a digital DSMES program experienced clinically meaningful and statistically significant reductions in A1C. Those with baseline A1C within goal treatment range (<8%) maintained glycemic stability over 1 year. The findings support existing evidence that scalable digital DSMES solutions can help individuals with T2DM manage their condition.

A Formative Evaluation of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Within the Virtual Medical Center.

The Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program provides education and medical monitoring of diabetes to Veterans through the Virtual Medical Center (VMC). Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 key stakeholders (4-DSMES VMC trainers, 5-clinical faculty, and 6-Veterans) from across Ohio urban and rural populations for up to 1h about their experiences using the program and suggestions for improvement. All the Veterans interviewed were able to access care within the DSMES VMC and reported a positive experience using the program, and improved diabetes self-management. Other stakeholders suggested more administrative and technical support for the DSMES VMC to increase awareness for VA staff and Veterans of the program to improve recruitment, and to shift to a web-based platform that is more easily accessible by clicking a link to reduce technical issues with downloading the program. These findings can inform future implementation efforts using technology to increase access to care allowing better health education for Veterans.

Feasibility Trial of a Comprehensive, Highly Patient-Centered COPD Self-Management Support Program.

To test the feasibility of a novel self-management support intervention for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted a feasibility randomized controlled trial involving patients ≥40 years with severe or very severe COPD in New York, New York (n=59). Community health workers screened patients and addressed barriers to COPD self-management. Patients were also offered home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (HBPR) and an antibiotic and steroid rescue pack. Control patients received general COPD education. Clinical outcomes for intervention and control were compared by difference-in-differences (DiD) at baseline and 6 months. The study was not powered for statistically significant differences for any measure. Feasibility measures were collected at 6 months. There were high rates of completion of intervention activities, including 75% of patients undergoing evaluation for and participating in HBPR. Most (92%) intervention patients said the program was very or extremely helpful and 96% said they would participate again. Clinical outcomes generally favored the intervention: COPD assessment test, DiD -1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] -5.9 to 3.6); 6-minute walk test distance, DiD 7.4 meters (95% CI -45.1 to 59.8); self-reported hospitalizations, DiD -9.8% (95% CI -42.3% to 22.8%); medication adherence, DiD 7.7% (-29.6%, 45.0%), and Physical Activity Adult Questionnaire, DiD 86 (95% CI -283 to 455). Intervention patients reported more emergency department visits, DiD 10.6% (95% CI 17.7% to 38.8%). A highly patient-centered, self-management support intervention for people with COPD was well received by patients and associated with potential improvements in clinical and self-management outcomes. A fully powered study of the intervention is warranted.

Enablers and barriers to accessing self-management support services for those living with and beyond cancer: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

Supporting those living with and beyond cancer to self-manage their health can optimise health-related quality of life and reduce symptom burden. Self-management support (SMS) programmes have been shown to be effective, but uptake is often low. This qualitative study aimed to identify experienced and perceived enablers and barriers to accessing SMS services among those who had completed primary cancer treatment and were living with and beyond cancer. Participants were recruited through social media and cancer advocacy groups. Semi-structured telephone and online interviews were conducted. Transcripts were coded inductively based on participants' reported experiences. Statements related to factors that enable or inhibit access to SMS were then mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Twenty-six people participated. Six themes explain the factors that act as barriers and enablers which mapped to 11 TDF domains. Lack of knowledge of available SMS was a prominent barrier, as well as inaccessible services due to timing and place of delivery. Lack of confidence and emotional factors including fear were barriers to seeking SMS. Social influences shaped knowledge, attitudes and readiness to access SMS. Perceptions of SMS service goals and if in alignment with self-identity, intentions and goals also shaped decisions around accessing support. While lack of knowledge and provider signposting were common barriers, findings suggest that other psychosocial and emotional factors may be barriers, even if SMS services are accessible. Findings are relevant for oncology healthcare services developing strategies to increase reach of SMS for those living with and beyond cancer.

Self-Management Analysis in Chronic Conditions (SMACC) checklist: an international consensus-based tool to develop, compare and evaluate self-management support programmes

ObjectivesThe Self-Management Analysis in Chronic Conditions (SMACC) checklist was developed as a guidance tool to support the development, comparison and evaluation of self-management support programmes for persons with a chronic...

Acquisition, application, and distribution of health literacy from culturally sensitive type 2 diabetes education among Arabic-Speaking migrants in Denmark: A longitudinal qualitative analysis.

Effective self-management of type 2 diabetes requires adequate health literacy (HL) and a supportive network. Diabetes self-management education and support programmes play a crucial role in improving these factors. However, limited research exists on how such programmes can support health literacy among migrants and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge within their social networks. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Arabic-speaking informants with a migrant background in relation to how their type 2 diabetes-related health literacy was acquired, applied and distributed within social networks through participation in a culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 informants during the programme and three to 7 months later, from September 2019 to May 2020. Abductive analysis was applied using HL and distributed health literacy (DHL) theory as frameworks. The analysis generated three themes: (1) sources of health information and the development of health literacy; (2) changes towards active self-management; and (3) distributed health literacy. Prior to programme participation, informants faced challenges in navigating conflicting information from family, friends and social media. After participating in the programme, they reported improvements in HL, particularly in knowledge acquisition. Many became more actively engaged in decision-making and exhibited improved health behaviours, such as dietary choices. Nonetheless, some informants continued to struggle with choosing appropriate prevention and treatment strategies. Notably, certain informants acted as HL mediators, sharing their newly acquired knowledge within their social networks in Denmark and abroad. Culturally sensitive diabetes self-management education programmes have the potential to enhance HL among migrants, leading to the distribution of relevant diabetes knowledge within their social networks. Future studies should explore how members of migrants' social networks perceive their supportive role in type 2 diabetes management. Programmes can benefit from emphasising critical HL and exploring how participant-informants effectively communicate diabetes-related knowledge within their networks to address misinformation and conflicting information.

Nursing care for diabetes mellitus

Background. Due to the global rise in diabetes patients, nurses of all specialties and positions are increasingly caring for these individuals on a daily basis. The purpose of this study was to examine the latest re­commendations and individual studies on diabetes management and to determine the place of nurses in a multidisciplinary team. Materials and methods. The article used descriptive methods and methods of comparative analysis to determine the characteristics of nursing practice in the management of patients with diabetes. Results. From the information studied, it became clear that nurses should be prepared to receive quality education associated with ongoing support and care in the community, primary health care institutions or in hospitals for such patients. Education in self-management and psychosocial problem solving are key elements of diabetes care and nursing. The Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support program is a crucial tool for patient-nurse communication, involving ongoing psychological support through educational techniques to address questions and concerns from individuals with diabetes and their families. Conclusions. Trained nurses can also perform screening for mental disorders and diabetes complications in order to timely diagnose or prevent their development. Regardless of new technologies or treatments, nurses must never lose their role as advocates for patients’ rights.

Effects of family-based diabetes self-management education and support programme on support behaviour amongst adults with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia

Support from family and peers may enhance the outcomes of diabetes management. This study reported the preliminary effect of a family-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programme on the perceived support status of people with diabetes and the family’s caregiver support behaviour amongst dyads living in Western Ethiopia. A 1:1 two-armed pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. A total of 76 dyads were recruited using the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups. The control group continued the usual care, whereas the intervention group continued the usual care and additionally received a 12-h social cognitive theory (SCT)-guided, family-supported DSMES programme in the community. Generalised estimating equations models were computed to test the preliminary effects of the DSMES programme on the outcomes. P-value < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. The pilot RCT shows a statistically significant between-group difference in the changes in support needed at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.35) and support received at T1 (d = 0.88) and T2 (d = 1.44). The DSMES programme has outperformed usual care with a medium effect size at T1 (d = 0.54) and a large effect size at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s supportive behaviour. Although the intervention group was not statistically significant at T1 (d = 0.43), a large effect size was obtained at T2 (d = 0.97) on the family’s non-supportive behaviour. A SCT-guided, family-supported DSMES programme produced a promising positive effect on enhancing the support needed and support received from their family/friends, and it also improved the family’s supportive behaviour. Thus, family support could be incorporated into DSMES programmes for diabetes management in Western Ethiopia. The trial was registered by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn); Registration number: ChiCTR2000040292.

CareKnowDo-A Multichannel Digital and Telephone Support Program for People With Chronic Kidney Disease: Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common, progressive condition. Lifestyle changes and antihypertensive medication can slow the progression to end-stage kidney disease, which requires renal replacement therapy. However, adherence to these recommendations is often low. The aim of CareKnowDo was to assess the feasibility of rolling out a digital self-management support and adherence program integrated with a patient-facing electronic health record, Patient View (PV). A 2-arm, parallel, individual-level pragmatic feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at 2 National Health Service (NHS) sites in the United Kingdom. A total of 61 patients with CKD were randomized 1:1 into 2 groups and provided with either a new, tailored digital and telephone support program (CareKnowDo: 31/61, 51%) integrated with PV or standard care (PV alone: 30/61, 49%). Quantitative measures included clinical and psychosocial measures. The primary outcomes were feasibility based: recruitment rate, dropout, and the exploration of associations. Of the 1392 patients screened in local kidney clinics, 269 (19.32%) met the basic inclusion criteria; the first 22.7% (61/269) who met the eligibility criteria were recruited to participate in the study. Of the 69 patients, 23 (38%) patients completed the final 6-month follow-up web-based survey. Reasons for the attrition were explored. A higher belief in the ability of the treatment to control CKD was associated with lower blood pressure at baseline (r=0.52; P=.005), and a higher perceived understanding of CKD at baseline was associated with lower blood pressure at follow-up (r=0.66; P<.001). Beliefs about medicines at baseline were associated with blood pressure at baseline but not at follow-up. This was true for both concerns about medicines (r=0.58; P=.001) and perceived necessity of medicines (r=0.42; P=.03). A tailored digital and nurse call-based program to enhance support for patients with CKD was piloted in 2 NHS sites and found to be feasible and acceptable. However, to maximize the effectiveness of the intervention (and of future trials), consideration should be given to the target audience most likely to benefit, as well as how to help them access the program as quickly and easily as possible. NHS Health Research Authority, IRAS ID 184206; https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving -research/application-summaries/research-summaries/careknowdo-pilot-version-1/.

Understanding how self-management education and support programmes for type 2 diabetes are expected to change behaviour: A document analysis of two programmes.

Attendance at diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programmes for type 2 diabetes is associated with positive outcomes, but the impact on some outcomes is inconsistent and tends to decline over time. Understanding the active ingredients of effective programmes is essential to optimise their effectiveness. This study aimed to (1) retrospectively identify behaviour change techniques (BCTs), mechanisms of action (MoAs) and intervention functions in two DSMES programmes, the Community-Oriented Diabetes Education and the Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed and (2) examine variation in content between programmes. A multiple case study approach, including a documentary analysis of the programme materials, was conducted. Materials were coded using the BCT Taxonomy v1, the Mode of Delivery Ontology v1 and the Intervention Source Ontology v1. The Behaviour Change Wheel guidance and the Theory and Techniques tool were used to identify intervention functions and MoAs. Programme stakeholders provided feedback on the findings. Thirty-four BCTs were identified across the programmes, with 22 common to both. The identified BCTs were frequently related to 'goals and planning', 'feedback and monitoring' and 'natural consequences'. BCTs were linked with 15 MoAs, predominantly related to reflective motivation ('beliefs about capabilities' and 'beliefs about consequences') and psychological capability ('knowledge'). BCTs served six intervention functions, most frequently 'education', 'enablement' and 'persuasion'. Although both programmes included several BCTs, some BCTs were rarely or never used. Additional BCTs could be considered to potentially enhance effectiveness by addressing a wider range of barriers.

MHealth Intervention for Vietnamese Living With Diabetes: Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Pilot Study.

Evidence indicates participation in a diabetes self-management education and support program improves self-care behaviors and hemoglobin A1c. Language and cultural differences may be barriers to program participation resulting in ineffective self-management, but these factors can be addressed with appropriate interventions. Given the high health care costs associated with diabetes complications, we developed a multicomponent, culturally tailored Self-Management Mobile Health Intervention for US Vietnamese With Diabetes (SMart-D). This study aims to evaluate the SMart-D intervention's feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness with intentions to scale up the intervention in the future. This mixed methods study incorporates the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance framework to evaluate the intervention. This stepped wedge randomized controlled pilot study will be conducted over 2 years in collaboration with primary care clinics. Eligible participants are patients with type 2 diabetes who are receiving health care from participating clinics. Clinics will be randomly assigned to an implementation date and will begin with patients enrolling in the control period while receiving standard care, then cross over to the intervention period where patients receive standard care plus the SMart-D intervention for over 12 weeks. Focus groups or interviews will be conducted with clinicians and patients after study completion. Qualitative data will be analyzed using NVivo. Outcomes on self-care behavior changes will be measured with the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities scale and clinical changes will be measured using laboratory tests. A generalized linear mixed-effect model will be used to compute time effect, clustering effect, and the interaction of the control and intervention periods using SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute). We hypothesize that (1) at least 50% (n=5) of eligible clinics and 50% (n=40) of eligible patients who are invited will participate, and at least 70% (n=56) of patients will complete the program, and (2) patients who receive the intervention will have improved self-care behaviors and clinical test results with at least 75% (n=60) of the patients maintaining improved outcomes at follow-up visits compared with baseline, and participants will verbalize that the intervention is feasible and acceptable. As of August 2023, we enrolled 10 clinics and 60 patients. Baseline data results will be available by the end of 2023 and outcome data will be published in 2025. This is the first Vietnamese diabetes self-management education and support intervention that leverages mobile health technology to address the barriers of language and culture differences through collaboration with primary care clinics. This study will provide a better understanding of the implementation process, demonstrate the potential effectiveness of the intervention, accelerate the pace of moving evidence-based interventions to practice among the US Vietnamese population, and potentially provide a replicable implementation model that can be culturally adapted to other non-English speaking ethnic minorities. DERR1-10.2196/48585.

An Online Structured Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Programme Improves Glycaemic Control in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

We explore the effect of a structured online DSMES program on glycaemic control and the self-management behaviour of adolescents and young adults with T1DM. We used a pre-post uncontrolled intervention design over a period of 6 months. A total of 37 youths with T1DM aged 10-45 years were enrolled. The intervention comprised 11 structured online DSMES course sessions; these were video-based and delivered by a diabetes specialist, nurses and a dietitian. The primary outcome was a change in (glycated hemoglobin) HbA1c. The secondary outcomes were changes in hypoglycaemia frequency, time in target range (TIR) among patients using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and self-management behaviour; the latter was measured using a T1DM self-management scale for Chinese adults (SMOD-CA) and the Chinese version of the diabetic behaviour rating scale in adolescents with T1DM (DBRS). Twenty-three (85.2%) participants attended ≥8 of the online sessions. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c (from 6.92% to 6.47%, P = 0.002), hypoglycaemic episodes (from 6.0 to 4.0 during the preceding month, P = 0.026) and a significant increase in TIR (from 74.0% to 80.5%, P = 0.027) and an increase in the SMOD-CA score (from 79.6 to 84.6, P = 0.026) in young adults. No significant change in glucose control, hypoglycaemic events or DBRS score were found among children and adolescents. The score of the 12-item version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-L RI:mini) indicated that more than half of the participants experienced congruence, positive regard, and an empathic understanding in this programme. The online structured DSMES programme was effective in improving the glycaemic control and self-management behaviour of young adults with T1DM; however, integrating offline visits or appointments with online consultations may be necessary for youth patients.

Long-Term Results of a Digital Hypertension Self-Management Program: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Digital health programs that incorporate frequent blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring and support for behavior change offer a scalable solution for hypertension management. We examined the impact of a digital hypertension self-management and lifestyle change support program on BP over 12 months. Data were analyzed from a retrospective observational cohort of commercially insured members (n=1117) that started the Omada for Hypertension program between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2021. Paired t tests and linear regression were used to measure the changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) over 12 months overall and by SBP control status at baseline (≥130 mm Hg vs <130 mm Hg). Members were on average 50.9 years old, 50.8% (n=567) of them were female, 60.5% (n=675) of them were White, and 70.5% (n=788) of them had uncontrolled SBP at baseline (≥130 mm Hg). At 12 months, all members (including members with controlled and uncontrolled BP at baseline) and those with uncontrolled SBP at baseline experienced significant mean reductions in SBP (mean -4.8 mm Hg, 95% CI -5.6 to -4.0; -8.1 mm Hg, 95% CI -9.0 to -7.1, respectively; both P<.001). Members with uncontrolled SBP at baseline also had significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure (-4.7 mm Hg; 95% CI -5.3 to -4.1), weight (-6.5 lbs, 95% CI -7.7 to -5.3; 2.7% weight loss), and BMI (-1.1 kg/m2; 95% CI -1.3 to -0.9; all P<.001). Those with controlled SBP at baseline maintained within BP goal range. Additionally, 48% (418/860) of members with uncontrolled BP at baseline experienced enough change in BP to improve their BP category. This study provides real-world evidence that a comprehensive digital health program involving hypertension education, at-home BP monitoring, and behavior change coaching support was effective for self-managing hypertension over 12 months.

Study on self-management of real-time and individualized support in stroke patients based on resilience: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe transitional period from hospital to home is vital for stroke patients, but it poses serious challenges. Good self-management ability can optimize disease outcomes. However, stroke patients in China have a low level of self-management ability during the transitional period, and a lack of effective support may be the reason. With the rapid development of technology, using wearable monitors to achieve real-time and individualized support may be the key to solving this problem. This study uses a randomized controlled trial design to assess the efficacy of using wearable technology to realize real-time and individualized self-management support in stroke patients’ self-management behavior during the transitional period following discharge from hospital.MethodsThis parallel-group randomized controlled trial will be conducted in two hospitals and patients’ homes. A total of 183 adult stroke patients will be enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio. The smartwatch intervention group (n = 61) will receive Real-time and Individualized Self-management Support (RISS) program + routine care, the wristband group (n = 61) will wear a fitness tracker (self-monitoring) + routine care, and the control group (n = 61) will receive routine stroke care. The intervention will last for 6 months. The primary outcomes are neurological function status, self-management behavior, quality of life, biochemical indicators, recurrence rate, and unplanned readmission rate. Secondary outcomes are resilience, patient activation, psychological status, and caregiver assessments. The analysis is intention-to-treat. The intervention effect will be evaluated at baseline (T0), 2 months after discharge (T1), 3 months after discharge (T2), and 6 months after discharge (T3).DiscussionThe cloud platform designed in this study not only has the function of real-time recording but also can push timely solutions when patients have abnormal conditions, as well as early warnings or alarms. This study could also potentially help patients develop good self-management habits through resilience theory, wearable devices, and individualized problem–solution library of self-management which can lay the foundation for long-term maintenance and continuous improvement of good self-management behavior in the future.Trial registrationThe ethics approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee of West China Hospital, Sichuan University (2022–941). All patients will be informed of the study details and sign a written informed consent form before enrollment. The research results will be reported in conferences and peer-reviewed publications. The trial registration number is ChiCTR2300070384. Registered on 11 April 2023.

A qualitative-based evaluation of the impact of participating in a social media-based foot self-management program among people with diabetes

BackgroundThe rising prevalence of diabetes, along with continued challenges associated with diabetes self-management, including foot self-care activities critical to reducing the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers among people with diabetes (PWD), calls for an alternative approach to diabetes self-management education and support (SMES) programs. AimThis study aimed to explore PWD’s experience of participating in a social media-based foot SMES program tagged Diabetic Foot Care Group (DFCG) and their perspective on how the program changed their foot self-care practices. MethodsThis qualitative-based summative evaluation study involved content analysis of transcripts from telephone interviews about PWD’s current foot self-care practices, change process, likes/dislikes, preferences, and recommendations three months after participating in DFCG. FindingsThe participants had a positive experience in DFCG and reported improved foot self-care practices. Five themes emerged to describe how DFCG helped participants change their foot self-care practice — in-depth knowledge, perceived susceptibility, sense-making, informed decision, and self-motivation. Most participants preferred an online program like DFCG to an in-person program. Participants’ recommendations include increasing individual access to DFCG, integrating virtual group meetings, increasing participants’ engagement, framing posts more positively, and ensuring program continuity. DiscussionDFCG content and structure facilitated cognitive processes that activated PWD to discern the reality of their diabetic foot risks, take ownership of their health, and become committed to practicing the required foot self-care activities. ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate the potential of a social media-based SMES program in promoting healthy foot self-care practices among PWD.