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Telemedicine for Reach, Education, Access, and Treatment for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Not Applicable
Conditions
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
Interventions
Other: TREAT-ED Virtual Group Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Registration Number
NCT06626347
Lead Sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Brief Summary

Emerging adults with type 1 diabetes are a vulnerable population. While diabetes self-management and education is known to offer opportunities to develop self-management skills required to achieve and maintain short- and long-term diabetes outcomes, emerging adults are reported to have poor clinic attendance and in turn low participation in diabetes self-management education and support services. This pilot study aims to test a novel approach to diabetes self-management education and support that incorporates technological and applied learning-driven methods delivered through group telemedicine visits to improve emerging adults engagement in diabetes self-management education and support with the ultimate goal of improving diabetes outcomes.

Detailed Description

Diabetes self-management education and support is considered a cornerstone of care and essential in helping people navigate self-management decisions and activities. Despite evidence that diabetes self-management education and support is a critical component of diabetes care, participation remains low. Emerging adulthood has been described as the distinct period between 18 and 25 years when adolescents work to achieve autonomy and explore life possibilities in moving toward adulthood. Suboptimal self-management has been identified as a major problem in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes, a particularly vulnerable group with an increased risk for poor diabetes-related outcomes. In its current form diabetes self-management education and support has been cited for not meeting the needs of emerging adults, when emerging adults have expressed interest in diabetes self-management education and support delivered with peer-supported, technological and applied learning-driven methods. To address these challenges, we are applying information gained from the literature and key stakeholder groups to our established Telemedicine for Reach, Education, Access and Treatment (TREAT) delivery model with a specific focus on diabetes self-management education and support. TREAT-ED (for self-management EDucation) will be designed to specifically engage emerging adults by integrating diabetes self-management education and support objectives to support informed decision making, self-care, and preparation for transfer to adult care, to improve outcomes. Diabetes care and education specialists will lead TREAT-ED with a cohort of emerging adults and will 1) help to organize and facilitate group sessions delivered through telehealth and 2) use continuous blood glucose monitoring reports as personalized examples to drive established diabetes self-management education and support content. With user-centered design techniques we developed and built and will now evaluate implementation determinants and test the TREAT-ED model. Feasibility assessment of the impact of the model on emerging adult patient participation in diabetes self-management education and support along with clinical, psychosocial and behavioral outcomes will be examined. We hypothesize that models that rely on current day strategies to engage emerging adults at high risk for diabetes-related problems with effective self-management skills will improve diabetes self-management education and support engagement and outcomes. If proven to be effective, this model is one that could be adapted for emerging adults who have transferred to adult diabetes care and other patient populations throughout the United States.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
48
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (ICD10 E10.xx, O24.0x)
  • 18 to 25 years of age at time of study enrollment
  • Able to communicate via videoconferencing platform
  • Intending to maintain status as a patient at participating clinical sites throughout the study duration
  • Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • Do not have a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (ICD10 E10.xx, O24.0x)
  • Less than 18 or older than 25 years old at time of enrollment
  • Do not intend to maintain their care at participating clinical sites throughout the duration of the study
  • Are unable to communicate via telemedicine
  • Has other concerns that may interfere significantly with their ability to participate in the intervention (ongoing health issues, personal events, etc.)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
TREAT-EDTREAT-ED Virtual Group Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support* Emerging adult patients with type 1 diabetes assigned to groups of eight participants on average. * Four diabetes self-management education and support group sessions delivered virtually each session lasting 30-45 minutes. * Group sessions scheduled at intervals decided up on by participants.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of diabetes self-management education and support sessions attendedFrom baseline to 6 months

Possible range is 0 to 4 sessions.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline in empowerment at 6 monthsBaseline vs. 6 months

Empowerment will be assessed with the 8-item Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form. Individual items are scored from 1 to 5; total scores are the average of all individual items. Higher scores indicate a greater sense of empowerment.

Change from baseline in readiness for transition at 6 monthsBaseline vs. 6 months

Transition readiness and self-management skill level will be assessed with the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire. Individual items are scored from 1 to 5; total scores are the average of all individual items. The higher the score, the greater the readiness for transition to adult care.

Change from baseline in self-efficacy at 6 monthsBaseline vs. 6 months

Self-efficacy will be assessed using the 10-item Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Self-Management scale. Individuals items are scored from 1 to 10; total scores are the average of all individual items. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy.

Change from baseline in diabetes distress at 6 monthsBaseline vs. 6 months

Diabetes distress will be assessed with the Type 1 Diabetes Distress Assessment System: CORE SCALE. The CORE SCALE includes 8 items. Individual items are scored from 1 to 5; total scores are the average of all individual items. The higher the score, the greater the level of distress.

Change in percentage of patients with glycemic control from baseline to 6 months.Baseline vs. 6 months

Glycemic control defined as clinically measured hemoglobin A1c value of 7% or less. Values will be identified through medical record review.

Percentage of time in target glycemic range (70-180 mg/dL)From baseline to 6 months

Time in target glycemic range (70-180 mg/dL) is evaluated in 14 day periods using data recorded on continuous glucose monitoring systems and documented in the electronic health record system. This data will only be available for participants who use a continuous glucose monitor and provide data for documentation.

Number of acute care visitsFrom baseline to 6 months

Number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions related to type 1 diabetes; documented in the medical record system.

Number of diabetes clinic visits attendedFrom baseline to 6 months

Diabetes clinic visits with an endocrinologist are recommended to occur every three months or more frequently as needed at the participating institution and are documented in the medical record.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UPMC Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh

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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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