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Bronx A1c: Phone counseling led to lower HbA1c levels
CHICAGO — Telephonic intervention has been shown to lower levels of A1c across a diverse population, according to the results of a prospective, randomized trial presented here at the ADA Scientific Sessions.
The Bronx A1c study was comprised of 941 adults with diabetes — 70% who were foreign-born, 68% Hispanic and 28% non-Hispanic black — who had an A1c >7% in the New York City Health Department’s A1c registry. Participants were randomly assigned to receive print materials and telephonic self-management counseling sessions (n=443) or only print intervention materials (n=498) for 1 year. Those in the first group received four to eight counseling phone calls from a health educator, determined by their baseline A1c levels (mean baseline A1c: 9.2%). Complete outcome data were available for almost 75% of the study population.
The A1c levels of patients in the phone counseling group dropped 0.4% more than the group only receiving print materials (P=.01). When adjusted for predictors explaining at least 1% of the variance, such as age or BMI, the difference in the levels between the groups was 0.6% (P=0.006).
Researchers said that changes from pre- to post-intervention in measures of medication adherence, diabetes distress, depression, self-care behaviors and well-being did not affect the results. Measures of risk perception for diabetes assessed at 6 months were significantly associated with A1c outcomes (P<0.05).
“In context of an urban A1c registry, a telephonic behavioral intervention to support self-management can have a positive substantial impact on diabetes control in a very diverse population,” researchers wrote. – by Alexandra Todak
For more information:
Walker EA. #2-OR. Presented at: ADA Scientific Sessions; June 21-25, 2013; Chicago.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.