Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists in Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Through the National Diabetes Prevention Program

Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists in Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Through the National Diabetes Prevention Program

RESEARCH BRIEF — Volume 17 — June 4, 2020

Leslie W. Ross, MPH1,2; Farida Bana, MPH1,2; Rachel J. Blacher, MPH3; Judith McDivitt, PhD1; Joshua Petty, MBA1; John Beckner, RPh4; Robert Montierth, PharmD, MBA1 (View author affiliations)

Suggested citation for this article: Ross LW, Bana F, Blacher RJ, McDivitt J, Petty J, Beckner J, et al. Continuous Stakeholder Engagement: Expanding the Role of Pharmacists in Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Through the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190374. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190374external icon.

PEER REVIEWED

On This Page

• Abstract
• Background
• Intervention Approach
• Implications for Public Health Practice
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References

Summary

What is already known on this topic?

Pharmacists are well positioned and can be highly effective in providing preventive health services to patients in their communities; however, they remain underutilized as public health service providers.

What is added by this report?

We strategically leveraged partnerships with pharmacy stakeholders to develop resources and promotional materials tailored to the needs and values of pharmacists. Our efforts can help expand type 2 diabetes prevention services through the pharmacy workforce.

What are the implications for public health practice?

A systematic process of continuous stakeholder engagement can be replicated as an approach to involve pharmacists and other health professionals in similar public health prevention efforts.

Abstract

The pharmacy sector is a key partner in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), as pharmacists frequently care for patients at high risk for type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed to increase pharmacist involvement in the program by leveraging partnerships with national pharmacy stakeholders. Continuous stakeholder engagement helped us to better understand the pharmacy sector and its needs. With stakeholders, we developed a guide and promotional campaign. By following a systematic process and including key stakeholders at every step of development, we successfully engaged these valuable partners in national type 2 diabetes prevention efforts. More pharmacy sites (n = 87) are now offering the National DPP lifestyle change program compared to before release of the guide (n = 27).