Power-Up: An Effectiveness Trial of the Diabetes Prevention Program Tailored for Men

The rising epidemic of type 2 diabetes is a major cause of disability and death that disproportionately affects men. Compared to women, men have much worse health and higher death rates for several chronic conditions, including diabetes. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) has been shown to help decrease the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The NDPP has shown the value of lifestyle change for weight loss and diabetes prevention. The Power-Up study is being done because although the evidence points to the effectiveness of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), men are less likely to be engaged or participate in DPP.

The Power-up study was designed to see whether a DPP tailored for men can help improve engagement, participation, and results for men. Participants will be randomized to either undergo the Power-Up or standard NDPP classes. An assessment of whether a DPP created for men will increase participation in the program and decrease the risk for diabetes as compared to the standard NDPP. Power-Up is designed to Aim 1) Assess the effect of Power-Up vs. standard care NDPP on percent weight loss among men at risk for diabetes; Aim 2) Compare engagement of minority men at risk for diabetes in Power-Up vs. standard care NDPP; and Aim 3) Evaluate the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Costs of Power-Up using the RE-AIM framework. The Power-Up intervention is tailored to the needs and preferences of men and uses: a) men coaches; b) men-only groups; c) messaging tailored to be appreciated and motivational to men; d) adapted content that highlights issues relevant to men.

There are 22-28 classes over the course of 12 months for both Power-Up and standard NDPP. The classes are split into two phases which are called the core and the maintenance phases. The core phase of the program will consist of at least 16 classes over the first 6 months. After the core, participants will attend maintenance classes over the next 6 months. Participants will be asked over the course of the 12 months to complete surveys at three different times before, during, and after completing the classes.

The hypothesis is that men randomized to Power-Up will achieve significantly greater weight loss (% weight loss from baseline) at 16 weeks and 1 year than men randomized to the standard care, mixed-gender NDPP group (Aim 1). Evaluation of engagement and retention for Aim 2 is based on attendance records for Power-Up and NDPP sessions electronically collected by trained coaches and monitored by study staff. The standards will be followed for NDPP evaluation where engagement is defined as equal or greater than 4 core sessions attended and retention is defined as equal or greater than 9 sessions attended. There will be a collection of quantitative and qualitative data that will be rigorously evaluated: the reach of our recruitment, broader patient-important indicators of effectiveness, adoption at the practice level, and implementation of the intervention (Aim 3).

Enrollment consists of 300 participants through our health system partners. Men will be randomized 1:1 to either the Power-Up intervention arm or referred to the standard NDPP at their clinic site. Consistent with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standards and current NDPP practices of our health system partners, telephone make-up sessions will be offered by coaches in both conditions to men who miss in-person sessions.