A Framework for Implementing the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Los Angeles County

ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 14 — August 24, 2017

Jennifer T. Mosst, PhD, MSSW, MScPH1; Amelia DeFosset, MPH1; Lauren Gase, PhD, MPH1; Laura Baetscher, MPH, MA1; Tony Kuo, MD, MSHS1,2,3 (View author affiliations)

Suggested citation for this article: Mosst JT, DeFosset A, Gase L, Baetscher L, Kuo T. A Framework for Implementing the National Diabetes Prevention Program in Los Angeles County. Prev Chronic Dis 2017;14:160433. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd14.160433 .

PEER REVIEWED

Abstract

Introduction

Preventing type 2 diabetes is a public health priority in the United States. An estimated 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older have prediabetes, 90% of whom are unaware they have it. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) has the potential to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes; however, little is known about the best way to institutionalize such a program in a jurisdiction with a racially/ethnically diverse population. The objective of this study was to develop a practice-grounded framework for implementing the NDPP in Los Angeles County.

Methods

In 2015, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) partnered with Ad Lucem Consulting to conduct a 3-stage formative assessment that consisted of 1) in-depth interviews with key informants representing community-based organizations to learn about their experiences implementing the NDPP and similar lifestyle-change programs and 2) 2 strategic planning sessions to obtain input and feedback from the Los Angeles County Diabetes Prevention Coalition. LACDPH identified core activities to increase identification of people with type 2 diabetes and referral and enrollment of eligible populations in the NDPP.

Results

We worked with LACDPH and key informants to develop a 3-pronged framework of core activities to implement NDPP: expanding outreach and education, improving health care referral systems and protocols, and increasing access to and insurance coverage for NDPP. The framework will use a diverse partner network to advance these strategies.

Conclusion

The framework has the potential to identify people with prediabetes and to expand NDPP among priority populations in Los Angeles County and other large jurisdictions by using a diverse partner network.

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Introduction

Preventing type 2 diabetes is a public health priority in the United States (1). Prediabetes occurs when a person’s blood glucose level is higher than normal (fasting blood glucose level of 100–125 mg/dL [5.6 to 7.0 mmol/L]), putting the person at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and developing type 2 diabetes (2,3). An estimated 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older have prediabetes, and 90% of those do not know they have it (3). In 2012, diabetes and prediabetes were estimated to cost $245 billion nationally and $32.3 billion in California, through direct medical spending and lost productivity (4).

Prediabetes can be reversed through lifestyle modifications (3,4). For example, the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), an intensive lifestyle-change program focused on improving diet and physical activity, can delay the onset of diabetes among those at risk (5,6). In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made significant investments in state and local efforts to translate NDPP into community settings and to grow the program in the Los Angeles County (7). In 2014, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) was selected as a large-city participant in CDC’s cooperative agreement 1422, State and Local Public Health Actions to Prevent Obesity, Diabetes, and Heart Disease and Stroke. In Los Angeles this program is called the Chronic Disease Prevention Strategy. One of the program’s primary aims is to expand access to and participation in NDPP in Los Angeles. To advance this goal, LACDPH partnered with the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to co-lead the Los Angeles County Diabetes Prevention Coalition (LACDPC), which was established in 2012 to help the YMCA and others expand enrollment in the NDPP.

Although LACDPC could serve as a powerful vehicle in Los Angeles to implement NDPP, the actions the coalition should take to institutionalize the program across this large, racially/ethnically diverse jurisdiction were unclear. In particular, little is known about the best ways to implement such a program among high-risk, high-burden priority populations (ie, those who have prediabetes or uncontrolled high blood pressure, those who live in low-income communities, and those in racial/ethnic minority populations who experience disparities in access to and quality of care) (7). To develop a practice-grounded framework for the Los Angeles County NDPP, we conducted a 3-stage formative assessment. This assessment sought to answer the following questions: 1) what core activities are needed to identify, refer, and enroll eligible participants in the NDPP, including establishing payment options to offset costs?, and 2) what key partners are needed to advance this work?

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Methods

In summer 2015, LACDPH partnered with Ad Lucem Consulting (ALC) to conduct a 3-phase formative assessment to inform objectives for the Chronic Disease Prevention Strategy, including identifying a strategic plan for the LACDPC. The assessment team, which included staff members from LACDPH and ALC, used an outcomes-focused approach (8), first defining the desired goal — increasing identification, referral, and enrollment of eligible populations into the NDPP — and then working backward to identify key activities and partners. In phase 1, ALC conducted in-depth interviews with key informants to learn about their experiences implementing NDPP and similar lifestyle-change programs. In phase 2, ALC and LACDPH presented results from these interviews to LACDPC for input and feedback. In phase 3, LACDPH synthesized results from the interviews and coalition dialogues into a practice-based framework. The project was reviewed and considered exempt by the LACDPH internal review board.

Phase 1: Qualitative key informant interviews

Eligible participants were recruited through a multistage sampling process that combined snowball and maximum variation techniques (9). The goal was to identify leaders in prevention and management in the United States working in various roles (ie, practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and funders) and organizations (eg, health care agencies, health plans, health departments, community-based organizations [CBOs]). First, LACDPH, along with contacts at the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Diabetes Educators, and CDC, provided ALC with a list of potential participants who were individuals or organizations that had field experience implementing the NDPP or other chronic disease prevention or management programs, or who had conducted NDPP-focused research and evaluation. An initial round of interviews was carried out with those listed: 1) organizations that were CDC-recognized NDPP providers (if applicable), and 2) individuals or organizations that had experience serving priority populations. Interviewees in the initial round were then asked to identify other individuals or organizations meeting the inclusion criteria. Recruitment continued until the sample included a balance of participants in terms of roles and organizational types. ALC recruited all potential interviewees through email, with follow-up telephone calls, as needed.

Of the 45 experts identified, 33 consented to participate. ALC conducted interviews with representatives from health departments and government agencies (9 respondents), health care providers and health plans (9 respondents), nonprofit and CBOs (8 respondents), academic institutions (4 respondents), and funders (3 respondents). Most participants were from Los Angeles (18 respondents), and the others (15 respondents) were from large metropolitan cities (populations of 8 million or more) or large states (populations of more than 19 million).

Four trained ALC interviewers conducted all interviews by telephone in August and September 2015. The interview guide included 7 primary open-ended questions and associated probes focused on understanding 1) how to increase referrals to NDPP, 2) how to increase enrollment in NDPP, 3) models for NDPP delivery, 4) barriers to implementing NDPP, 5) models for reimbursement and coverage of NDPP, 6) expanding the pool of NDPP providers, and 7) the role of health departments in implementing NDPP. Each interview was conducted by one interviewer and lasted approximately one hour, during which time the interviewer typed notes (transcripts) to record responses verbatim. The transcripts were then uploaded into Atlas.ti (Scientific Software Development, GmbH) for qualitative analysis. First, 2 interviewers developed a list of thematic codes based on the interview questions. Second, the 4 interviewers independently coded transcripts in batches, meeting 4 times as a full group to reconcile coding, refine the coding scheme, and group codes into themes in 4 predefined areas relevant to developing a strategic plan for LACDPC 1): ways to increase demand for the NDPP among patients and providers, 2), ways to engage the health care system, 3) ways to increase the supply and capacity of NDPP providers, and 4) ways to conduct NDPP implementation research and evaluation.

Phase 2: Input from the Los Angeles County Diabetes Prevention Coalition

ALC and LACDPH presented the themes developed from the interviews during phase 1 to LACDPC during 2 in-person strategic planning sessions in December 2015 and February 2016. Sixteen coalition members, representing 11 institutions, participated. The sessions, which lasted approximately 3 hours each, focused on systematically generating input on key activities that were most important and relevant to advancing diabetes prevention in Los Angeles. We solicited reactions from coalition members with questions such as, Is this activity important?, What partners are needed to implement these activities?, What else could complement these activities?, and How can these activities be applied to diabetes prevention work locally in Los Angeles?. During each session, one trained note taker recorded participants’ discussion. ALC and LACDPH staff members then met to review and summarize the notes, which were then shared via email with the full coalition for final input and confirmation.

Phase 3: Framework development

Two LACDPH team members conducted a holistic analysis of the data generated during phases 1 and 2 and synthesized these into a framework that identified the core activities needed to increase identification, referral, and enrollment of eligible populations into the NDPP in Los Angeles. The 2 team members were guided by, but not bound to, analyses conducted by ALC in phase 1 to identify the themes that were presented to the coalition. LACDPH staff compiled interview transcripts and notes from coalition sessions into a master document. Two team members reviewed this document independently, working inductively to assign descriptive codes to segments of text (10,11). After independent review, the 2 team members met to discuss codes, reconcile differences in interpretation, and develop a core set of activities. The team prioritized activities that were identified by both multiple interview participants and members of LACDPC. The team grouped the activities into overarching domains and developed a visual representation to show how they relate to one another and the desired outcomes.

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Results

Key informant interviews generated themes in phase 1, and the coalition generated additional input in phase 2 (Table). The framework developed in phase 3 consists of 3 domains 1): expanding outreach and education, 2) improving health care referral systems and protocols, and 3) increasing access to and insurance coverage for NDPP. The framework relies on a diverse partner network for advancing these strategies (Figure).

Figure.
Framework for implementing the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) in Los Angeles County. [A text version of this figure is also available.]

Expand outreach and education. The first domain emphasizes the importance of providing education and training to the public and community-based partners and health care providers to increase knowledge and awareness of prediabetes and of the NDPP. LACDPH identified 3 activities to expand outreach and education. First, to help increase knowledge among the general public, public education campaigns such as the Ad Council’s Diabetes Prevention Campaign (www.adcouncil.org/Our-Campaigns/Health/Type-2-Diabetes-Prevention) are needed to emphasize the importance of preventing diabetes and the value of lifestyle-change programs. Participants recommended creating and disseminating a national message that includes an appropriate local-level focus to help empower those most affected by prediabetes to talk to their health care providers (ie, helping to increase demand for the NDPP). Second, participants recommended developing educational resources targeting community partners and health care providers (ie, physicians, community health workers, promotoras, health navigators, and large employers). Participants emphasized the importance of training community-based partners and health care providers on the content and scope of NDPP, on tools to screen people for prediabetes, and on integrating screening and referral tools into practice. Existing training resources, such as the American Medical Association–CDC Prevent Diabetes STAT toolkit (https://preventdiabetesstat.org/toolkit.html), were identified as important tools for increasing knowledge and enhancing the referral process. Third, participants recommended creating an NDPP resource inventory (ie, informational resource lists and databases) as a complementary activity to increase knowledge and awareness of programs, including where, when, and in what languages classes are offered.

Improve health care referral systems and protocols. The second domain emphasizes the need to create referral systems and protocols for health care providers to refer and identify at-risk patients to NDPP. LACDPH identified 3 activities to improve health care referral systems and protocols. First, participants recommended enhancing the existing electronic medical record (EMR) system to identify patients with prediabetes and refer those eligible to local health care providers participating in NDPP. Participants recommended developing mechanisms to conduct regular queries of EMRs to identify patients at risk for prediabetes and link them to NDPP providers through an automatic referral process. CBOs could use similar electronic processes to screen people for diabetes risk and refer those eligible directly to local NDPP providers. Second, participants recommended modifying EMRs to create feedback loops between the health system and local NDPP providers. These feedback loops would help enhance bidirectional communication between health systems and community-based NDPP providers to more effectively manage patient care. Third, participants recommended expanding the use of team care and nonphysician providers, especially community health workers, to identify and refer patients to NDPP. Participants emphasized the relevance of using team-based approaches to reduce provider burden and enhance coordination of care for patients to improve processes for identifying and referring patients to NDPP.

Increase access to and insurance coverage of the NDPP. The third domain emphasizes the importance of increasing access to NDPP and insurance coverage for health care associated with participation in NDPP. Participants described the lack of program options (eg, delivery formats, language options) and insurance coverage for NDPP as significant barriers to enrollment, especially for priority populations, including those in low-income communities and those who speak languages other than English. LACDPH identified 2 activities to increase access and coverage. First, participants recommended increasing the availability of NDPP providers in diverse settings and expanding the network of NDPP providers by 1) providing technical assistance to new organizations to administer the NDPP and 2) helping current providers increase their reach in priority areas. Participants identified the need to improve the cultural relevance of NDPP, including training lifestyle coaches that represent the cultures and languages of high-risk populations and developing and disseminating a culturally diverse resource guide for participants to augment NDPP and support the adoption of healthy behaviors. Recommendations were made to offer the program in identified priority languages: Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Second, participants described the need to partner with large worksites and insurers to offer NDPP as a covered insurance benefit. Working directly with employers can help facilitate access to NDPP and insurance coverage for NDPP health care services. Interview participants felt that employer-based NDPP programs (ie, offering NDPP directly at targeted worksites) were a convenient way to engage potential program participants, implement screening protocols, and facilitate coverage of the program. Insurance providers were identified as another key partner in helping to remove cost barriers to participation in the NDPP. The need to conduct additional research and evaluation to identify NDPP models that meet the need of payers by demonstrating return on investment is a high priority. In addition, creating financial and quality incentives, such as a Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measure for prediabetes, might facilitate increased access to and insurance coverage of NDPP-related health care.

Partner network. The framework relies on a diverse partner network to implement NDPP. Participants described diverse partnerships to facilitate capacity building among providers, assist with the development of educational resources for training, increase awareness of NDPP, and provide resources for increasing access to the program. Participants stressed the importance of partnerships among health care organizations, local and national government entities, nonprofit organizations, CBOs, payers, local funding organizations, and NDPP provider organizations. Additionally, participants emphasized the need to work with local NDPP providers to pilot programs and test payment models to build the case for insurance coverage. Participants from LACDPC recognized the importance of their role in facilitating many of these partnerships by convening key stakeholders (ie, NDPP providers, insurers, academic partners, health care providers, government, CBOs) and working to grow the coalition to increase the diversity of organizations and member expertise.

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Discussion

We described a 3-pronged framework to increase the identification, referral, and enrollment of participants in NDPP: expanding outreach and education, improving health care referral systems and protocols, and increasing access to and insurance coverage of the NDPP. The framework relies on a diverse partner network in advancing this work. The framework provides a roadmap for the work of LACDPH and LACDPC.

Increasing uptake of the NDPP in Los Angeles will require the use of a multipronged approach that simultaneously focuses on increasing availability of and demand for the program while reducing potential barriers to program participation. Such an approach echoes calls to action from leaders in community translation and in clinical prevention; these calls have separately included recommended actions to increase awareness among patients and health care providers about the risk of prediabetes (12), to enhance clinical systems to institutionalize the novel prevention approach (13,14), or to implement varied and sustainable program and payment models to ensure that the NDPP is available and accessible to the full population in need (12,15). The framework developed in this study synthesized key informant recommendations into a single practice-based model that emphasizes the importance of advancing the 3 prongs of the framework concurrently so that they are mutually reinforcing.

Our study suggests that diverse partners are needed to implement the framework. Best-practice recommendations to implement evidence-based programs reinforce the importance of early and meaningful involvement from a full range of stakeholders (8); our study suggests that key stakeholders in the implementation of NDPP should include representatives from business, health systems, NDPP providers, government, community, education/academia, and philanthropy. A coordinated, collaborative effort that includes these groups (the foundations of this effort were developed locally by LACDPC [16]) will be needed to advance the multifaceted and mutually reinforcing strategies necessary to implement NDPP in Los Angeles County. We anticipate that LACDPC can build on this study’s framework with input from community members to address the complex health problem that diabetes poses (16–23).

The formative assessment process and resulting framework described in this study has been useful in Los Angeles for organizing and developing plans to implement NDPP (21). The framework is currently being implemented by LACDPC, which has adopted a subcommittee structure to advance activities in each of the framework’s 3 domains. Other evidence-based health promotion programs have suggested the need for additional actions, such as assessing local conditions and capacity (24,25). However, this type of planning action did not emerge as a priority in our study. One potential reason for this is that the multistage process of vetting broader national perspectives (collected in phase 1) with local stakeholders (through the planning sessions held in phase 2), resulted in a framework that reflects existing conditions in Los Angeles County and steps needed to implement the framework. Although more work is needed to systematically examine the framework’s local usefulness and impact, other interested jurisdictions may wish to adapt the formative assessment process used in this study to develop practice-based frameworks that reflect their own local needs.

This study has several limitations. First, although the strategic planning process offered an opportunity to confirm and enrich interview data, the scope of the information presented during these sessions was limited by the initial interview guide. A more open-ended process could have acquired more information. Similarly, soliciting the perspective of potential NDPP participants could have provided information on barriers and facilitators to program enrollment; however, because our study focus was to identify key actions organizations could take expand NDPP, collecting such data from potential participants was beyond the scope of this assessment. Second, the assessment was guided by an outcomes-focused, practice-grounded approach (7), which sought to identify concrete action steps to increase the identification, referral, and enrollment of eligible populations into NDPP in Los Angeles. A theoretical model was not used to guide the assessment. Finally, although key informant interviews were conducted with various local and national experts, viewpoints from Los Angeles were heavily represented in the development process. Additional efforts are needed to determine whether our framework can be useful for other jurisdictions.

A comprehensive framework that identifies the core activities and partners needed to implement the NDPP regionally can provide a useful platform to organize collaborative efforts. Other jurisdictions can use the processes and results in this study to help advance evidence-based, lifestyle-change programs such as the NDPP in their communities.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by a cooperative agreement from CDC, no. 1U58DP005509-01. We thank the staff of ALC for their support and contributions to the article. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or the official position of the LACDPH, CDC, or the organizations mentioned in the article.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: Jennifer T. Mosst, PhD, MSSW, MScPH, Program Manager, Diabetes Prevention and Health Systems Strategies, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 3530 Wilshire Blvd, 8th Fl, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Telephone: 213-427-4402. Email: jmosst@ph.lacounty.gov.

Author Affiliations: 1Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. 2Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. 3Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.

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