Research Description
Diabetes self-management education and support programs (DSMES) can help people living with diabetes to choose food and activities to lower their blood sugar, reduce costs associated with diabetes, and ultimately improve health and lower the chance of developing other problems such as stroke or blindness. However, not all people with diabetes are referred to or take part in DSMES programs. There is a need to understand and reduce the barriers to referral by providers, increase incentive and opportunity to provide program information in out-patient clinics, and provide personalized information to people with diabetes of the program benefits. This project will build on the innovative Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) program, a community-based DSMES program developed via a partnership between Clemson University and Prisma Health. The project team has completed preliminary work in designing an electronic health record (EHR) decision support tool to support program participation in HED. Clinical decision support tools can be used to encourage health care providers to refer people with diabetes to DSMES. The tool also provides personal information to the patient with diabetes so that they are aware of these programs and can choose to take part in them. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of this tool to ensure access for all people with diabetes. Evaluation will provide key information to redesign health system activities around program referral and communication. The results can help patients with diabetes receive the information and services that they want to meet their health needs.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?Diabetes self-management education and support programs (DSMES) can help people living with diabetes to choose food and activities to lower their blood sugar, reduce costs associated with diabetes, and ultimately improve health and lower the chance of developing other problems such as stroke or blindness. However, not all people with diabetes are referred to or participate in DSMES programs. There is a need to understand and reduce the barriers to referral by providers, increase incentives and opportunities to provide program information in outpatient clinics and provide personalized information to people with diabetes about the program benefits. This project will build on the innovative Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) program, a community-based DSMES program developed via a partnership between Clemson University and Prisma Health.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?The project team has completed preliminary work in designing an electronic health record (EHR) decision support tool to support program participation in HED. The tool provides personal information to patients with diabetes so that they are aware of these programs and can choose to participate. Clinical decision support tools can also encourage healthcare providers to refer people with diabetes to diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES). The results can help patients with diabetes receive the information and services they want to meet their health needs.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of this tool to ensure access for all people with diabetes. Evaluation will provide essential information to redesign health system activities around program referral and communication. As a diabetes researcher and advocate for diabetes education, I have observed first-hand the many barriers and challenges to program referral and access. This program provides an opportunity to address these issues to improve diabetes care and related health outcomes.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?We have many challenges in diabetes treatment and research, but improved awareness of programs can significantly impact care. I see support for and research into community-based diabetes education programs as critical to improving health outcomes for individuals living with diabetes.