Improving Health Outcomes of Diabetic Veterans: A Diabetic Self-Management Program

US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Diabetes

Treatments: Behavioral: Peer led classes. Led by trained veterans with a chronic disease.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT00013052

DII 99-097

Details and patient eligibility

About

Control of the blood sugar prevents complications and results in extra years of life in patients with diabetes. Practice Guidelines delineating specific ways physicians manage diabetes have been outlined. Missing are guidelines for health care providers to encourage patients to take responsibility for their diabetes. Traditional patient education models have been ineffective in managing diabetic persons because they have relied upon information given alone and are disease centered rather than patient centered. This study will explore the role of self-efficacy in helping veterans move toward healthy behaviors.

Full description

Background:

Control of the blood sugar prevents complications and results in extra years of life in patients with diabetes. Practice Guidelines delineating specific ways physicians manage diabetes have been outlined. Missing are guidelines for health care providers to encourage patients to take responsibility for their diabetes. Traditional patient education models have been ineffective in managing diabetic persons because they have relied upon information given alone and are disease centered rather than patient centered. This study will explore the role of self-efficacy in helping veterans move toward healthy behaviors.

Objectives:

The long-term objectives are to: 1) increase recognition of veteran�s responsibility for health; 2) develop more effective skills in managing chronic conditions; and 3) explore the role of self-efficacy in facilitating improvements in health behaviors and health care utilization.

Methods:

This is a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial of 2,068 cognitively intact, diabetic veterans. The outcome measures (health behaviors, self-efficacy, health status and health care utilization) will be measured using self-rated scales developed and tested by Lorig and colleagues from Stanford University. Glucose levels and BMI changes will be evaluated using information documented in the medical record.

Status:

Enrollment (a total of 326 patients) is closed. All necessary data have been received and are being analyzed.

Enrollment: 2,068 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Cognitively intact diabetic veterans.

Exclusion Criteria:

Trial design

2,068 participants in 1 patient group

Arm 1

Other group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Peer led classes. Led by trained veterans with a chronic disease.