Improving Diabetes Control Through Peer Counseling and Incentives

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Diabetes Mellitus
• Interventions: Behavioral: Assigned a peer counselor; Behavioral: Financial incentives

• Registration Number: NCT01125956
• Lead Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Brief Summary

The specific aims of this study are to test whether in a cohort of low-income minority veterans with poor diabetes mellitus (DM) control:

1. Peer counseling is an effective means of reducing HbA1c (a measure of glucose control).

2. Financial incentives are an effective means of reducing HbA1c. This is a randomized controlled pilot study. There will be 3 arms: 1) a control group of poorly controlled diabetics getting usual care; 2) peer counseling with no incentives; and 3) financial incentives without peers. Ultimately, contingent on the success of this intervention, the researchers plan to apply for funding for a large scale intervention employing both peer counseling and incentives to improve DM control in low income and minority patients who are at high risk for premature morbidity and mortality.

Detailed Description

Not available

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-07
• Study First Submitted: 2010-05-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-05-18
• Study First Posted: 2010-05-19
• Primary Completion: 2010-12
• Study Completion: 2010-12
• Status Verified: 2019-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-02-26
• Last Update Posted: 2019-02-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 160

Inclusion Criteria

• African American veteran
• 50-70 years old
• ICD-9CM diagnosis code consistent with DM (any ICD-9CM code starting with 250)
• For patients: last two HbA1c greater than 8% with at least one measure being within 3 months of enrollment
• For peer counselors: HbA1c of greater than 8% in the past 3 years and an HbA1c less than or equal to 7.5% within 3 months of enrollment

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Exclusion Criteria

• Unstable medical condition that would likely prevent the subject from completing the study
• Patients enrolled in Telehealth will be excluded as such enrollment does not constitute usual care

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Peer counseling	Assigned a peer counselor	A peer counselor will be assigned to each participant who currently has good diabetes control but had poor control in the past 3 years.
Financial incentives	Financial incentives	Patient participants in the financial incentive arm will be given $100 for reduction of HbA1c by 1 point in a 6 month period and $200 for reduction by 2 points.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hemoglobin A1c	Baseline, 6 months	Change in HbA1c from baseline will be the primary outcome measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Counts of the number of hypoglycemic events	6 months	All events and serious events related to hypoglycemia will be counted over the 6 month intervention period, including emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Experience of peer counseling	6 months	The experience of peer counseling from both poorly controlled diabetics and counselors will be described.
Number of peer encounters	6 months	The number of peer encounters by arm will be described.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States