Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate how a 1-hour education session that highlights American Heart Association/American Diabetes Association’s Know Diabetes by Heart (KDBH) messaging changed the knowledge and behavioural intention of participants. Design: Single group, quasi-experimental study evaluating the impact of the KDBH education intervention on participants’ knowledge and intentions to engage in risk-lowering behaviours related to the link between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Setting: A free, 1-hour, synchronously delivered education session was offered through an online platform and facilitated by Cooperative Extension agents. Methods: A pre- and post-Qualtrics survey was used to assess changes in knowledge and intended behaviours. Slides were provided by the American Diabetes Association and tailored for clarification and evaluation purposes. Results: The study included 259 adults with an average age of 54 years (standard deviation [ SD] = 16.67) and 72.97% being 46 years or older. When participants were asked if having type 2 diabetes put them at risk for development of hypertension, unhealthy cholesterol levels, heart attack, or stroke, 84.84% answered correctly at baseline. After session completion, the percentage correct increased to 92.2% ( p = .002). Individual’s knowledge of cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes was assessed; 66.80% answered correctly pre-intervention. After completing the KDBH programme, 95.37% answered correctly ( p = .001). In addition, more than half of those with type 2 diabetes reported intended to adopt several behaviours related to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease at the completion of the programme. Conclusions: The pilot study indicates successful information transfer in a 1-hour education session focused on chronic disease risks associated with T2DM. Results support the use of synchronous online platforms for diabetes and heart disease information transfer. Future prospective studies measuring sustained knowledge, behaviour adoption and incidence of heart-disease before and after education are needed.

Objective The goals of this study were to determine whether completion of a community-based diabetes self-management support (DSMS) program delivered through a university Cooperative Extension network increased Patient Activation Measure (PAM) scores and to examine predictors of improvement in PAM score in individuals participating in the DSMS. Methods The Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) is a 4-month program delivered via a paraprofessional extension agent in partnership with an established diabetes self-management education and support program. The study population included 148 adults (median age 69 years; interquartile range 60–74 years) with diabetes recruited from local community organizations. Data for the analysis was collected before and after participation in the intervention as part of a longitudinal study, using the PAM and Self-Efficacy for Diabetes instruments. Descriptive statistics were gathered and hypothesis tests and simple and multivariable regression analyses were conducted. Results The mean PAM score increased by 6.58 points, with a 5-point change considered clinically significant. From pre- to post-intervention, PAM scores significantly decreased for 23 participants, decreased for 6, did not change for 14, increased for 21, and significantly increased for 84. Higher pre-intervention PAM scores, younger age, greater educational attainment, and higher baseline self-efficacy scores were associated with increased post-intervention PAM scores when not controlling for potential covariates. Age was no longer associated with higher PAM scores after controlling for covariates. Conclusion Community-based DSMS interventions can be effective in generating positive change in individuals’ activation. HED provides a feasible and accessible DSMS option that addresses key diabetes self-management components while effectively improving individuals’ activation. It is recommended that people living with diabetes attend a DSMS program such as HED to increase their ability to effectively self-manage various components of their chronic condition.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting nearly 34 million adults, and disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, such as ethnic minorities, the elderly and individuals with low socioeconomic status. This study addresses the impact of the Health Extension for Diabetes (HED) program, a community-based diabetes self-management support program, on adult diabetes self-care behaviors. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) was utilized to evaluate improvement in diabetes self-care behaviors. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable regression models were conducted. Significant increases were observed among program participants (N = 149) in all five subscales of the SDSCA (general diet, specific diet, blood glucose testing, exercise and foot care; P-values < 0.001). A priority of this diabetes education program was helping underserved populations; over half (62%) of participants self-identified as Black/African Americans. After program participation, scores on all SDSCA subscales increased significantly among Black/African Americans (n = 93) by approximately 1 day per week. White/other races (n = 56) showed similar increases in four of the SDSCA subscales post-HED program participation. This study shows that increasing participation in community-based, diabetes self-management support programs, such as HED, can increase engagement in diabetes self-care behaviors among underserved groups.

Background: Given the increasing number of individuals with diabetes who live in settings with limited access to care, new models of care delivery for management of diabetes are critical. Health Extension for Diabetes (HED), a community-based non-clinical diabetes education program delivered by a Health Extension Agent, is based on the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors for Managing Diabetes. Methods: This intervention is a mixed-methods research study with a primary outcome to reduce/prevent complications associated with diabetes. Goal assessment metrics were selected by clinical, non-clinical and evaluation staff, and resulted in 3 categories: health behaviors, health outcomes, and healthcare utilization. Pre/post analysis of graduates in HED cohorts 1-3 focuses on health behaviors and health outcomes with emphasis on 2 crucial measures, diet and exercise. Pre/post data were compared using Stata 15. Results: Table 1 shows client demographics and the pre/post analysis of several variables collected during evaluation process. Conclusion: Overall, this novel educational diabetes self-management support intervention was found to be effective shown through the short-term outcome measures. This new method increased client physical activity and confidence (self-efficacy) in regard to diabetes management while lowering consumption of sugary beverages. Disclosure C.J. Dietz: None. P. Tilkemeier: None. W.W. Sherrill: None. D.E. McFall: None. M.D. Stancil: None. M.A. Parisi: None. C. Beauchamp: None. H.N. White: None. Funding Greenville Health Authority