Development and Assessment of a Family-Centric Approach to the National DPP LCP
The Family Approach pilot study aimed to evaluate whether having supportive pairs, or dyads, enroll in the National DPP Lifestyle Change Program (LCP) would enhance enrollment and retention rates, overall satisfaction, and successful program completion. In this context, a dyad could consist of spouses, partners, parents with adult children, or close friends and family who influence one another’s dietary and physical activity decisions. At least one individual in each dyad could be eligible for participation in the National DPP LCP. The overall retention rate for participants at risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 79%, while it was 72% for all participants. Out of 34 dyads, 20 (59%) successfully completed the program.
This initiative was a joint effort between FHI 360 and DDT.
Utilizing Community Pharmacies to Enhance Access to the National DPP
The project team worked to increase the number of CDC-recognized National DPP LCP providers, particularly in rural and underserved communities. They partnered with independent pharmacies to train pharmacists and technicians on how to identify, recruit, engage, and maintain participants in the program. The aim was to tackle social determinants of health in these areas, such as a lack of healthcare providers and limited availability of health information, and to provide educational resources that help pharmacy clients mitigate their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The findings included both facilitators and challenges for program implementation, which encompassed increasing enrollment, overcoming staffing shortages, addressing costs, implementing the data collection system, and retaining participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Best practices identified in the project included leveraging existing community partnerships (like churches, health-oriented organizations, and large employers such as school districts) to improve recruitment and enrollment, creating thorough retention strategies, and employing pharmacy technicians as Lifestyle Coaches.
This effort was a collaborative project among the National Community Pharmacists Association, OmniSys, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, and DDT.
Engaging Mobile Workers in the National DPP with Audio Content
This initiative targeted long-haul truck drivers to help them navigate job-specific challenges and gain the advantages of participating in the National DPP LCP via a podcast series. The goal was to convey the essential messages of the CDC’s PreventT2 curriculum as a supplement to the online LCP. The project team conducted interviews, focus groups, and observations of truckers in their work environments to gain insight into the audience and shape the podcast series. A total of 22 podcast episodes were created to complement the PreventT2 curriculum, and portions of the content were tested for resonance with the target audience before the full series was produced. Researchers utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods to measure the effectiveness of the podcasts in a demonstration project. The results indicate that this intervention was successful.
This project was a partnership between ICF Next and DDT.
