Diabetes affects about 16 million Americans, nearly 6% of the population. The prevalence is often twice as great in minority communities. This disparity is further aggravated by a disparity between scientific knowledge about how to prevent diabetes complications (e.g., blindness, amputation, etc.) and the translation of such knowledge into prevention of complications in the community. Persons with diabetes often neither receive the appropriate clinical care nor the benefit of participation in preventive self-care practices. The National Diabetes Control Program is a collaborative effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 59 state and territorial health departments. The program uses community interventions, health systems change strategies and health communication efforts, guided by epidemiology, science and input from communities and partner organizations, to reduce the burden of diabetes and to reduce diabetes-related disparities. In 1999, the National Diabetes Control Program for the first time established seven measurable objectives for the impact that its programs should have on the populations of individuals, families and communities that comprise each state and territory. The establishment of measurable impact objectives marked a major policy shift for a program that had previously emphasized process evaluation. This presentation will share the evaluation experience of the National Diabetes Control Program since the adoption of its national impact objectives, as well as lessons learned and planned future directions. Policy implications for community clinics and state and local health departments will also be considered.
Learning Objectives: After the session, participant will be able to: (1)Describe two types of diabetes health disparities that exist in the United States (2)Discuss three potential methods for evaluating diabetes health disparity reduction efforts in states and communities; and (3)Consider two policy implications that the National Diabetes Control Program's new emphasis on impact evaluation may have for community clinics and state and local health departments
Keywords: Diabetes, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; State and Territorial Health Departments; National Diabetes Control Program; Local Health Departments
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.