More than A1C: Types of success among adults with type-2 diabetes participating in a technology-enabled nurse coaching intervention.
Sarina Fazio, Jennifer Edwards, Sheridan Miyamoto and 3 others
PMID 30172572WHAT IT FOUND
Among 132 adults with type-2 diabetes who completed nurse coaching and tracking technology, 96% reported some positive change, often in habits, awareness, resources, feeling better, or A1C.
This is self-report, not proof the program works.
Key findings
01The document analysis included 132 adults who completed all six nurse coaching sessions in the intervention arm.
02Of those 132 participants, 96% reported some positive change in health or diabetes management, while in four cases both participant and nurse coach noted minimal to no positive change.
03Participants described success in five interdependent categories: health behaviors, mindset or awareness, engagement with healthcare resources, physical or emotional health, and health indicators.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only participants who completed all six coaching sessions in the intervention arm were included, so people who dropped out or received usual care are not represented. Success was based on self-report and nurse progress notes, not on linked trial outcome results. The analysis is descriptive, so it cannot grade how much success each participant had or compare groups. All participants received nurse coaching and tracking technology together, so the contribution of either component cannot be separated.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The parent trial was funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 96% positive-change report as proof that nurse coaching and technology improve diabetes outcomes. These participants were only those who completed all six coaching sessions in the intervention arm, and the combined coaching plus tracking components cannot be separated. The parent trial's preliminary self-efficacy scores were not different between groups at nine months.