The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is most prevalent in deprived communities and patients with low health literacy have worse glycaemic control and higher rates of diabetic complications. However, recruitment from this patient population into intervention trials is highly challenging. We conducted a study to...

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Main Authors: Joanne Protheroe, Trishna Rathod, Bernadette Bartlam, Gillian Rowlands, Gerry Richardson, David Reeves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Diabetes Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6903245
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author Joanne Protheroe
Trishna Rathod
Bernadette Bartlam
Gillian Rowlands
Gerry Richardson
David Reeves
author_facet Joanne Protheroe
Trishna Rathod
Bernadette Bartlam
Gillian Rowlands
Gerry Richardson
David Reeves
author_sort Joanne Protheroe
collection DOAJ
description Type 2 diabetes mellitus is most prevalent in deprived communities and patients with low health literacy have worse glycaemic control and higher rates of diabetic complications. However, recruitment from this patient population into intervention trials is highly challenging. We conducted a study to explore the feasibility of recruitment and to assess the effect of a lay health trainer intervention, in patients with low health literacy and poorly controlled diabetes from a socioeconomically disadvantaged population, compared with usual care. Methods. A pilot RCT comparing the LHT intervention with usual care. Patients with HbA1c > 7.5 (58 mmol/mol) were recruited. Baseline and 7-month outcome data were entered directly onto a laptop to reduce patient burden. Results. 76 patients were recruited; 60.5% had low health literacy and 75% were from the most deprived areas of England. Participants in the LHT arm had significantly improved mental health (p=0.049) and illness perception (p=0.040). The intervention was associated with lower resource use, better patient self-care management, and better QALY profile at 7-month follow-up. Conclusion. This study describes successful recruitment strategies for hard-to-reach populations. Further research is warranted for this cost-effective, relatively low-cost intervention for a population currently suffering a disproportionate burden of diabetes, to demonstrate its sustained impact on treatment effects, health, and health inequalities.
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spelling doaj-art-5b7cc71fd68d43b584bedebc2e553cbb2025-08-20T03:26:29ZengWileyJournal of Diabetes Research2314-67452314-67532016-01-01201610.1155/2016/69032456903245The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled TrialJoanne Protheroe0Trishna Rathod1Bernadette Bartlam2Gillian Rowlands3Gerry Richardson4David Reeves5Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UKResearch Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UKResearch Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UKSection for Health Promotion and Health Services, Institute for Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkCentre for Health Economics, University of York, York, UKCentre for Primary Care and Centre for Biostatistics, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), University of Manchester, Manchester, UKType 2 diabetes mellitus is most prevalent in deprived communities and patients with low health literacy have worse glycaemic control and higher rates of diabetic complications. However, recruitment from this patient population into intervention trials is highly challenging. We conducted a study to explore the feasibility of recruitment and to assess the effect of a lay health trainer intervention, in patients with low health literacy and poorly controlled diabetes from a socioeconomically disadvantaged population, compared with usual care. Methods. A pilot RCT comparing the LHT intervention with usual care. Patients with HbA1c > 7.5 (58 mmol/mol) were recruited. Baseline and 7-month outcome data were entered directly onto a laptop to reduce patient burden. Results. 76 patients were recruited; 60.5% had low health literacy and 75% were from the most deprived areas of England. Participants in the LHT arm had significantly improved mental health (p=0.049) and illness perception (p=0.040). The intervention was associated with lower resource use, better patient self-care management, and better QALY profile at 7-month follow-up. Conclusion. This study describes successful recruitment strategies for hard-to-reach populations. Further research is warranted for this cost-effective, relatively low-cost intervention for a population currently suffering a disproportionate burden of diabetes, to demonstrate its sustained impact on treatment effects, health, and health inequalities.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6903245
spellingShingle Joanne Protheroe
Trishna Rathod
Bernadette Bartlam
Gillian Rowlands
Gerry Richardson
David Reeves
The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Journal of Diabetes Research
title The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
title_full The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
title_fullStr The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
title_short The Feasibility of Health Trainer Improved Patient Self-Management in Patients with Low Health Literacy and Poorly Controlled Diabetes: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
title_sort feasibility of health trainer improved patient self management in patients with low health literacy and poorly controlled diabetes a pilot randomised controlled trial
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6903245
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