Adapted diabetes prevention program lifestyle intervention can be effectively delivered through telehealth

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of delivering an adapted group-based version of the Diabetes Prevention Program's (DPP) lifestyle intervention through telehealth video conferencing.

Methods: In 2009, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in collaboration with Holy Rosary Heathcare implemented the DPP lifestyle intervention, which was provided to an on-site group in 1 community and simultaneously through telehealth to a second group in a remote frontier community. Participants obtained medical clearance from their primary care physician and were eligible if they were overweight and had 1 or more of the following risk factors: prediabetes, impaired glucose tolerance/impaired fasting glucose (IGT/IFG), a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) or the delivery of an infant >9 pounds, hypertension, or dyslipidemia.

Results: A total of 13 and 16 eligible adults enrolled in the on-site and the telehealth program, and 13 (100%) and 14 (88%) participants completed the 16-week program, respectively. Both the on-site and telehealth groups achieved high levels of weekly physical activity and there were no significant differences between groups. Over 45% of on-site and telehealth participants achieved the 7% weight loss goal with the average weight loss per participant greater than 6.4 kg in both groups.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that it is feasible to deliver an adapted group-based DPP lifestyle intervention through telehealth resulting in weight loss outcomes similar to the original DPP.