Comparative effectiveness of goal setting in diabetes mellitus group clinics: randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) group clinics can effectively control hypertension, but data to support glycemic control are equivocal. This study evaluated the comparative effectiveness of 2 DM group clinic interventions on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) levels in primary care.

Methods: Eighty-seven participants were recruited from a DM registry of a single regional Veterans Affairs medical center to participate in an open, randomized comparative effectiveness study. Two primary care-based DM group interventions of 3 months' duration were compared. Empowering Patients in Care (EPIC) was a clinician-led, patient-centered group clinic consisting of 4 sessions on setting self-management action plans (diet, exercise, home monitoring, medications, etc) and communicating about progress with action plans. The comparison intervention consisted of group education sessions with a DM educator and dietician followed by an additional visit with one's primary care provider. Hemoglobin A(1c) levels were compared after intervention and at the 1-year follow-up.

Results: Participants in the EPIC intervention had significantly greater improvements in HbA(1c) levels immediately following the active intervention (8.86%-8.04% vs 8.74%-8.70% of total hemoglobin; mean [SD] between-group difference 0.67% [1.3%]; P=.03), and these differences persisted at the 1 year follow-up (0.59% [1.4%], P=.05). A repeated-measures analysis using all study time points found a significant time-by-treatment interaction effect on HbA(1c) levels favoring the EPIC intervention (F(2,85)=3.55; P=.03). The effect of the time-by-treatment interaction seems to be partially mediated by DM self-efficacy (F(1,85)=10.39; P=.002).

Conclusion: Primary care-based DM group clinics that include structured goal-setting approaches to self-management can significantly improve HbA(1c) levels after intervention and maintain improvements for 1 year. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00481286.

©2011 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1. Intervention group description

DM indicates diabetes mellitus, PCP indicates primary care provider

Figure 2. Study design and participant flowchart

EPIC indicates Empowering Patients in Care; VA Veterans Affairs.

Figure 3. Longitudinal change in Hemoglobin A1c by intervention group

Each data point represents the mean and standard error values for all patients (n=85) at each data collection time point. Using a repeated measures analysis, the overall effect of the interaction of intervention group by time was significant (F(2,85)= 3.55, P= .03) on longitudinal Hemoglobin A1c values.