Addressing Social Determinants of Health & Diabetes Self-Management in Vulnerable Populations

The purpose of this feasibility study is to inform the design of a future large-scale, randomized trial that will test if there is added benefit to addressing both social and economic needs and diabetes self-management to improve diabetes management long-term among vulnerable populations. In this pilot, the investigator will randomize 100 African-American, Hispanic, and/or Medicaid (all race/ethnicities) patients from Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW) with A1C ≥ 8 and poor follow-up in primary care to one of two 6-month interventions: 1) patient navigation only; or 2) patient navigation + diabetes self-management training. In both study arms, KPNW practice-embedded patient navigators will screen for medical, social and economic needs and connect participants to internal and external resources. In the second study arm, navigators will also refer participants to community health workers (CHWs) embedded in local community-based organizations, who will deliver diabetes self-management training. Feasibility of the full-scale trial will be based on several measures including recruitment, retention, success rate of referrals to navigators and CHWs, and whether medical, social, and/or economic needs are met. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with various stakeholders to assess intervention acceptability and determinants of implementation. Preliminary effects of A1C, diabetes-related care gaps, health care utilization, and medication adherence will also be examined. This pragmatic study design involves a collaborative effort among researchers, health system staff, health system senior leadership, and local community-based organizations. Findings from the full-scale trial will contribute critical knowledge on the most effective, sustainable model of care for integrating lay health workers in the efforts to improve diabetes management among high risk patient populations.