PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yin, Junmei
AU  - Wong, Rebecca
AU  - Au, Shimen
AU  - Chung, Harriet
AU  - Lau, Maggie
AU  - Lin, Laihar
AU  - Tsang, Chiuchi
AU  - Lau, Kampiu
AU  - Ozaki, Risa
AU  - So, Wingyee
AU  - Ko, Gary
AU  - Luk, Andrea
AU  - Yeung, Roseanne
AU  - Chan, Juliana C. N.
TI  - Effects of Providing Peer Support on Diabetes Management in People With Type 2 Diabetes
AID  - 10.1370/afm.1853
DP  - 2015 Aug 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - S42--S49
VI  - 13
IP  - Suppl 1
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/Suppl_1/S42.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/Suppl_1/S42.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2015 Aug 01; 13
AB  - PURPOSE We examined the effects of participating in a “train-the-trainer” program and being a peer supporter on metabolic and cognitive/psychological/behavioral parameters in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.METHODS In response to our invitation, 79 patients with fair glycemic control (HbA1c <8%) agreed to participate in a “train-the-trainer” program to become peer supporters. Of the 59 who completed the program successfully, 33 agreed to be peer supporters (“agreed trainees”) and were each assigned to support 10 patients for 1 year, with a voluntary extension period of 3 additional years, while 26 trainees declined to be supporters (“refused trainees”). A group of 60 patients with fair glycemic control who did not attend the training program and were under usual care were selected as a comparison group. The primary outcome was the change in average HbA1c levels for the 3 groups from baseline to 6 months.RESULTS At 6 months, HbA1c was unchanged in the trainees (at baseline, 7.1 ± 0.3%; at 6 months, 7.1 ± 1.1%) but increased in the comparison group (at baseline, 7.1 ± 0.5%; at 6 months, 7.3 ± 1.1%. P = .02 for between-group comparison). Self-reported self-care activities including diet adherence and foot care improved in the trainees but not the comparison group. After 4 years, HbA1c remained stable among the agreed trainees (at baseline, 7.0 ± 0.2%; at 4 years: 7.2 ± 0.6%), compared with increases in the refused trainees (at baseline, 7.1 ± 0.4%; at 4 years, 7.8 ± 0.8%) and comparison group (at baseline, 7.1 ± 0.5%; at 4 years, 8.1 ± 0.6%. P = .001 for between-group comparison).CONCLUSIONS Patients with diabetes who engaged in providing ongoing peer support to other patients with diabetes improved their self-care while maintaining glycemic control over 4 years.