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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

John D. Prochaska, MPH¹, Jane N. Bolin, PhD, JD, RN², Kerrie Hora, MS¹, and Marcia Gail Ory, PhD, MPH³. (1) Center for Community Health Development - Research Core, Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health, MS1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266, 979-845-5788, jdprochaska@srph.tamhsc.edu, (2) Health Policy and Management, The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266, (3) Prevention Research Center, Texas A&M University System, School of Rural Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266

Background

Researchers employing community-based participatory research methods in chronic disease management, particularly diabetes management and prevention, need input from health care providers to plan optimal programming. Little is known about determinants of providers' willingness to serve on community-wide advisory boards.

Methods

During a preliminary community health assessment, researchers developed a paper-based survey, subsequently approved and distributed by administrators of a medium-sized health system servicing urban and rural areas in Central Texas. Physicians and allied healthcare providers with system admitting privileges received surveys, which contained questions assessing caseloads, willingness to serve on a diabetes taskforce, and other questions. Twenty-percent of providers returned surveys.

Results

39.3% self-identified as primary-care providers; 51.8% as specialists, including podiatrists; and the remainder were administrators, other and non-respondents. 46% reported at least 20% of patients had diabetes (51.6% among specialists); 66% reported at least 20% of their diabetic patients had diabetes management trouble (85.7% among primary-care providers). 40.7% of specialists were willing to serve on the taskforce compared to 14.3% of primary-care providers (p=0.045). Primary-care providers frequently indicated lack of time as a participation barrier. Further, specialists declining to participate frequently mentioned that primary-care providers were more suited for participation or that diabetes management was not within their scope of clinical practice.

Discussion

CBPR researchers seeking to increase healthcare provider participation in diabetes management will need to consider demands on providers' schedules and reaffirmation of specialists' potential contribution to the process. Similar approaches may benefit other researchers seeking to impact community-wide diabetes management and prevention.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss methodologies for improving direct healthcare provider involvement with a community-wide advisory board.
• Apply survey methods for identifying potential barriers to provider participation.

Keywords: Community-Based Public Health, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered