An Educational Intervention for Type 2 Diabetes Patients (ACTIVet)

• patients' perceived self-efficacy to communicate [ Time Frame: per visit outcome ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Communication Self-Efficacy is the degree to which a patient feels able to interact with his/her physician in order to provide information about problems, obtain desired information about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and participate in formulating a plan. Self Efficacy to Communicate is measured with the Perceived Efficacy in Physician Patient Interactions scale a valid and reliable self report measure of patients' perceived self efficacy in interacting with physicians
• medication adherence [ Time Frame: 6 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• hemoglobin A1c [ Time Frame: 6 month ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Background: Diabetes is estimated to affect up to 1 in 5 VA patients overall and up to 1 in 4 racial/ethnic minority patients. Patients with low health literacy and minority groups have more difficulty communicating with physicians, report lower adherence to physicians' recommendations, and have higher rates of poor diabetes outcomes. Activating patients to use more effective communication with physicians' can lead to better adherence to treatment and to better biomedical outcomes. In this project the investigators build upon their prior work from two HSRD funded pilot projects to improve doctor patient communication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In a previously funded short-term project, SHP-08-182, the investigators conducted focus groups with patients with T2DM to elicit and understand from the patient perspective, barriers to communicating with their physician. This qualitative work was used in a subsequent pilot project, PPO-08-402 to refine and pilot test an educational video to encourage patients to use active participatory communication in their visits to physicians. This work was successfully completed and the product is a 10 minute video that in testing was found to be acceptable to patients and feasible for patients to view immediately preceding their medical encounter.

Objectives: In this project the investigators propose to test the effectiveness of the video as an intervention to improved patients' communication. The primary aim is to conduct a randomized controlled trial of an intervention testing whether the intervention increases patients' active participatory communication behaviors, patients' post-visit ratings of self efficacy to communicate, medication adherence, and diabetic control (HgbA1c). There are four secondary aims which include assessments of the (1) mediators, and (2) moderators of the relationship of the intervention condition to outcomes, (3) costs of the intervention, and (4) an evaluation of the feasibility of using the video for pre-visit preparation.

Methods: The investigators will conduct a two group, pre-post, randomized controlled, single-site trial of the intervention in patients with T2DM. The investigators will recruit 156 patients and their physicians for a pre and post-intervention visit. Physicians will be trained with the agenda setting module from the Four Habits model. Patients will be randomized to view a 10 minute intervention or control video prior to their second visit. Visits will be audio recorded and analyzed for patients' and physicians' communication behaviors. Self-efficacy to communicate will be collected by self report. Adherence will be collected by self-report and by medication possession ratio. Diabetic control is collected by chart review. Analyses will evaluate the relationship of the intervention condition to outcomes, mediators and moderators of that relationship, and will estimate costs of the intervention and feasibility of using the video in a busy clinic.

Impacts: VA transformation efforts including interprofessional Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) are focusing attention on patient-centered care. Improved communication is a central feature of patient centered care. Communication in medical interactions is critical and plays an important, but often overlooked role in health-care decision making and quality of care. Patients who have difficulty communicating are less involved in consultations with their physician, receive less information and support, and are less satisfied with their care. In turn, these patients may not understand their treatment options, may have less knowledge, less positive beliefs about treatment and less trust in physician, and may experience poorer health outcomes. Teaching patients to communicate more effectively is patient-centered because it inherently supports a patient-driven approach to delivering healthcare. The investigators' intervention is designed to encourage patients' active communication. Improving patients' communication is a unique focus that may supplement and add to the VA efforts in areas such as the Patient Aligned Care Team. In addition, the methodology is not disease specific and may be a paradigm for improvement in other conditions.

• Behavioral: Intervention Video
  A video intervention delivered prior to patients' visits with primary care physicians designed to increase use of active participatory communication (patient participation) behaviors, improved communication ratings, and improved medication adherence
  Other Name: Speak UP
• Behavioral: Control
  Attention control

• Active Comparator: Intervention
  Patients randomized to the intervention will view the intervention video
  Intervention: Behavioral: Intervention Video
• Placebo Comparator: Control
  Patients randomized to control will view an informative video about nutrition and exercise of similar length
  Intervention: Behavioral: Control

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) greater than or equal to 8
• Adults, age 18 or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lives in skilled nursing facility
• Dementia (abnormal score on Mini-COG)
• Terminal medical condition
• Drug- (e.g., steroid) induced diabetes.
• Blind or deaf (e.g., unable to view/hear video)