Older Adults Using Social Support to Improve Self-Care: Adaptation, Implementation, and Feasibility of Peer Support for Older Adults With T2DM in Appalachia.

The Older Adults using Social Support to Improve Self-Care (OASIS) intervention is an asset-based approach, utilizing the unique social structure existing in Kentucky's rural Appalachian communities to address self-care behaviors as they relate to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) management. The intervention will be composed of two groups: peer coaches who have managed T2DM (HbA1c < 7.5%), and peer participants who have unmanaged T2DM (HbA1c ≥ 7.5%). Peer coaches will undergo training prior to intervention initiation to develop coaching skills. Peer participants will be linked to a peer coach in one of four ways: (1) self-select coach with contact once a week (2) self-selected coach with contact every 2 weeks (3) matched with peer coach with contact once a week (4) matched with peer coach with contact every 2 weeks. In addition to evaluating the effectiveness of a peer coaching model, the four groups will be evaluated allowing for a more detailed understanding of factors that influence self-care behaviors. Stakeholders will also be engaged at three time points: prior to the intervention, study mid-point, and at study conclusion. At study conclusion, a small cohort of both peer participants and peer coaches will be invited to contribute to stakeholder group interviews. Information exchange with stakeholders will aid in developing a robust understanding of influential factors and how to effectively promulgate the intervention.