Using Peer Mentors to Support PACT Team Efforts to Improve Diabetes Control

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Treatments: Behavioral: Peer Mentoring

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01651117

IIR 12-407

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a peer mentor model in a mixed race population of poorly controlled diabetic Veterans. Also, the study aims to assess the effects of becoming a mentor on those who originally were mentees. It is expected that participants in the peer mentoring arms (Arm 2 and 3) will have improved glucose control regardless of race or ethnicity at the end of the intervention.

Full description

The primary objectives of this study are: (1) test the long-term effectiveness of a peer mentor model on improving glucose control, blood pressure, LDL levels, diabetes mellitus quality of life, and depression scores in a mixed race population of poorly controlled diabetic Veterans; (2) test the effectiveness of using former peer mentees as peer mentors as a means of creating a self-sustaining program; and (3) and test the effects of becoming a mentor on those who were originally mentees given a growing literature that being a mentor is good for your health. Secondary objectives include: (1) in those randomized to being a mentee, explore mentor characteristics associated with improved HbA1c.

This study will be a prospective randomized controlled trial. Outcomes to be measured include glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, direct LDL, diabetes quality of life and depression.

The trial has two phases. In phase one, patients with poorly controlled diabetes are randomized to usual care or receiving peer mentoring. In phase two, poorly controlled diabetics are randomized to usual care or receiving peer mentoring from former mentees. Former mentees from phase 1 are also randomized such that they will have a 50% chance of becoming a mentor.

Enrollment: 480 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• All participants must have a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetics.
• Diabetes began after age 30
• Mentees: Have an HbA1c > 8% on 2 different occasions in the course of 24 months, with at least one measure within 3 months of enrollment
• Mentors for Phase 1: Had an HbA1c of > 8% in the past 3 years and an HbA1c < (or equal to) 7.5% within 3 months of enrollment
• Mentors for Phase 2: Former mentee

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Does not speak English
• Unable to understand consents
• Severe speech impediment
• over the age of 75

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

480 participants in 3 patient groups

Usual Care

No Intervention group

Description:

Enrolled in two different time frames. No interventions will be provided to this arm. They will complete planned surveys, and blood draws (baseline, 6 months, and 12 months).

Peer Mentoring

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will be mentored for 6 months by a veteran who was once in poor control but is now in good control. They will then be further randomized to either becoming a mentor for 6 months or having no other additional active intervention. All participants in this arm will be evaluated in person at baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Peer Mentoring

Peer Mentoring FFM (from former mentee)

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this arm will be mentored by the former mentee for 6 months and will be followed in person for an additional 6 months after the completion of the active intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Peer Mentoring