Background
Health care centers serving low-income communities have scarce resources to support medication decision-making among patients with poorly controlled diabetes.
Objective
We compared outcomes between community health worker (CHW) use of a tailored, interactive web-based tablet-delivered tool (iDecide) versus use of print educational materials.
Design
A randomized two-arm trial from 2011-2013. Trial Registration NCT01427660.
Setting
Community health center in Detroit serving a Latino and African American low-income population.
Participants
188 adults with a hemoglobinA1c >7.5% (55%) or who reported questions, concerns, or difficulty taking diabetes medications
Primary Funding Sources
Agency for Health Care Quality and Research (1R18HS019256-01) and P30DK092926 (MCDTR)
Measurements
Primary outcomes were changes in knowledge about anti-hyperglycemic medications, patient-reported medication decisional conflict, and satisfaction with anti-hyperglycemic medication information. We also examined changes in diabetes distress, self-efficacy, medication adherence, and A1c.
Intervention
Participants were randomized to receive a 1-2 hour session with a CHW using either iDecide or printed educational materials and two follow-up calls.
Results
94% of participants completed three-month follow-up. Both groups improved across most measures. iDecide participants reported greater improvements in satisfaction with medication information (helpfulness, p=.007; clarity, p=.03) and in diabetes distress compared to the print materials group (p<0.001). There were no differences between groups in other outcomes.
Limitations
The study was conducted at one health center over a short period, and the CHWs were experienced in behavioral counseling, thus possibly mitigating the need for additional support tools.
Conclusions
Most outcomes were similarly improved among participants receiving both types of diabetes medication decision-making support. Longer-term evaluations are necessary to determine whether the greater improvements in satisfaction with medication information and diabetes distress achieved in the iDecide group at three months translate into better longer-term diabetes outcomes.