The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #45758

Jane M. Kelly, MD and Phyllis McGuire. Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy., N.E., Mail Stop K-10, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, 770-488-5196, azk9@cdc.gov

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a partnership between two federal agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Health, and over 200 public and private organizations created to improve the treatment and outcome for people with diabetes, promote early diagnosis, and ultimately prevent the onset of this disease. Such an extensive collaborative effort presents communication challenges. Input from the many NDEP members representing diverse ethnic, cultural and special interest groups is desirable from the very beginning of campaign material development. The http://www/cdc.gov/team-ndep website was created to encourage the partnership network. In 2002, a new web board feature was introduced in which NDEP members could review works-in-progress as individual workgroups develop materials. The web-board pilot involved review of a primer written by the Podiatry, Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry (PPOD) workgroup of the NDEP by the four minority NDEP workgroups (African American, Asian American/Pacific Island, Hispanic/Latino and American Indian). Many members had found e mail unsuitable for transmitting large documents, but were able to access the Internet for the web board connection. The web board permitted interactive review as participants were able to view one another’s comments. Consensus about cultural competency issues was reached and feedback to the PPOD workgroup chair from the minority workgoups was obtained in a timely fashion. This venue was viewed as user-friendly and effective, and presents an important communication link for the large NDEP partnership network.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and assess the team-NDEP website as a resource for products targeting improved diabetes care and as a link for NDEP partners.
• Describe the interactive web board feature of the team-NDEP website as a tool for collaboration among over 200 organizations interested in improved outcomes for people with diabetes.
• Discuss issues uncovered in the pilot project of the web board in communication between a group of health care professionals, and NDEP minority workgroups during development of a culturally-competent product.

Keywords: Communication, Diabetes

Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/team-NDEP

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Diabetes Education Program
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.