Enhancing Evidence-based Diabetes Control Among Local Health Departments
Enhancing Evidence-based Diabetes Control Among Local Health Departments
The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate dissemination strategies to support the uptake of evidence-based programs and policies (EBPPs) for diabetes prevention and control among local-level public health practitioners. Dissemination strategies such as multi-day in-person training workshops, electronic information exchange modalities, and remote technical assistance are hypothesized to associate with improved access and use of public health evidence and organizational supports for program and policy decision making based on evidence-based public health.
Evidence-based public health approaches to prevent and control diabetes and other chronic diseases have been identified in recent decades, and could have a profound effect on diabetes incidence and quality and length of life of those diagnosed. However, barriers to implement approaches continue because of lack of organizational support, limited resources, competing priorities, and limited skill among the public health workforce. The purpose of this study is to determine effective ways to promote the adoption of evidence based public health practice related to diabetes and chronic disease prevention and control among local health departments (LHDs). This stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial aims to evaluate active dissemination strategies on local-level public health practitioners to increase adoption and use of evidence-based programs and policies for diabetes and chronic disease prevention and control among LHDs in Missouri. Twelve LHDs will be recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups that cross over from usual practice to receive the intervention (dissemination) strategies at 8-month intervals; the intervention duration for groups ranges from 8 to 24 months. LHD staff and the university-based study team are jointly identifying, refining and selecting dissemination strategies. Intervention strategies may include multi-day in-person training workshops, electronic information exchange modalities, and remote technical assistance. Evaluation methods include surveys at baseline and at each 8-month interval, abstraction of LHD chronic disease prevention program plans and progress reports, and social network analysis.
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