Heisler and her colleagues are currently conducting two randomized controlled trials of such interventions in people with diabetes who have high A1C levels, blood pressures, and lipid (cholesterol) levels. One, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the VA, includes nurse-led group sessions where patients can break their longer-term diabetes self-care goals into short-term specific steps, and chance for patients to link up with a diabetes peer buddy who faces similar self-care challenges, to provide mutual coaching and support during weekly telephone calls.
The other, funded by the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and VA, is training VA pharmacists to reach out to diabetes patients with poor risk factor control and pharmacy data that shows difficulties refilling medications. The clinical pharmacists will provide motivational-interviewing-based adherence assessment and counseling. This proactive outreach will specifically target blood pressure, which like glucose is a crucial factor in the development and progression of diabetes complications. The pharmacists will also have the ability to increase patients dosages of blood pressure medications, within a framework pre-approved by physicians.
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| Contact: Kara Gavin kegavin@umich.edu 734-764-2220 University of Michigan Health System Source:Eurekalert |