Project Summary
Our long-term goal is to support patient-centered strategies to improve diabetes prevention and management for West Virginians, a state with a prevalence rate of 13 percent. This project aims to build a network of patients, caregivers, diabetes educators, clinicians, health services and outcomes researchers, faith-based organizations, community agencies, and other stakeholders in West Virginia—termed the Improving Diabetes Education and Awareness Advisory (IDEAA) board. We will collaboratively (1) identify gaps in diabetes best-practice guidelines and self-care, and (2) explore patient-centered and patient-important strategies for evidence-based diabetes prevention and management education. Addressing these issues are critical to help patients and families navigate the healthcare system, evaluate factors (lifestyle, psychosocial, cultural, and economic), and promote referrals for diabetes self-management and clinic/community-based programs that meet patient needs (especially among low socioeconomic populations).
We aim to (1) convene a diverse IDEAA board (patients with diabetes, caregivers, clinicians and educators from the health department, hospitals, Office of Health Services Research, federally qualified health centers, home health agencies, and free clinics) to capture the current status of diabetes care and programs, (2) generate priority areas to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, (3) outline goals and strategies to improve diabetes self-management, and (4) develop a governance structure that would support applications for future patient-centered comparative effectiveness research funding opportunities. The Principal Investigator (PI) has a history of successfully working with community partners and stakeholders in rural areas to implement diabetes programs in this medically underserved state. The proposed advisory board will build on the existing Mon County Diabetes Coalition led by the PI. on treating tuberculosis infection.