Implementation and Evaluation of an Interprofessional Innovative Health Promotion Model for an Underserved Population with Diabetes

Background/Objectives: Diabetes is a significant public health problem. Evidence shows that self-management lessens this disease burden. This study aimed to implement an interprofessional student-led diabetes health promotion model with underserved populations, to improve patients' self-management and clinical outcomes, and student understanding of diabetes and interprofessional care. Methods: Forty-eight students from five health career disciplines led six monthly educational sessions at two community clinics. The sessions focused on critical components of diabetes management identified by the American Diabetes Association. The Alphabet Strategy (Jaiveer, Saraswathy, Lee, Morrissey, & Patel, 2003) was the framework for the longitudinal study. Patients' laboratory values and surveys assessing diabetes care were collected pre-and post-intervention. Students' surveys determined understanding of diabetes management and interprofessionalism. Results: Thirty-eight patients (67.8%) with a mean age of 59 (SD=15.47) completed the study. Patients showed statistically significant improvement in diabetes knowledge (t=-2.65, p=0.01), understanding of diabetes management (t=-13.18, p=0.002), and clinical outcomes (weight, t=2.25, p=0.03; systolic blood pressure, t=2.426, p=0.02; diastolic blood pressure, t=4.716, p=0.00; and hemoglobin A1C, t=3.59, p=0.001). There were significant improvements in students' self-reported confidence in their ability to educate patients about diabetes self-management.Conclusions: This study showed significant improvement in patients' clinical outcomes and understanding of diabetes self-management and acknowledged the potential value of an interprofessional approach to diabetes education. Public Health Nurses could collaborate with health career students and educators to implement this model with other populations and in other practice settings.